[Transcriber's notes: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected(e. G. Gunnner for gunner), recurrent misspelling of the author haven't(e. G. Montlucon for Montluçon, canvass for canvases, incidently forincidentally, paraphanelia for paraphernalia, calesthenics forcalisthenic, etc. .. ). Chapter III: The word "by" has been changed to "from" (partially sheltered from the Southern sun). Chapter XVII: The spelling of Sommbernont has been changed to Sombernon. Chapter XX: The word casual has been changed to casualty (sent him home as a casualty). Chapter XXV: It is not clear if the printed word is trained or roamed (where he last trained/roamed). Definitions:Cootie: Noun US: a head-louse (Macquarie Online Dictionnary - Book of slang). ] THE DELTA OF THE TRIPLE ELEVENS THE HISTORY OF BATTERY D, 311th FIELD ARTILLERY UNITED STATES ARMY, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES [Illustration] By WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN Standard-Sentinel Print Hazleton, Pa. 1920 COPYRIGHT 1920 BY WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN [Illustration: GROUP PHOTO OF BATTERY D. 311th F. A. Taken at Benoite Vaux, France, March 14, 1919. Reproduced from theOfficial Photo taken by the Photographic Section of the Signal Corps, U.  S.  A. ] To The memory of our pals whom we buried in France This Book Is Dedicated [Illustration: WILLIAM E. BACHMAN ARMY RECORD. Inducted into service at Hazleton, Penna. , November 1st, 1917. Sentto Camp Meade, Md. , November 2nd, 1917, and assigned as Private toBattery D, 311th Field Artillery. Received rank of Private FirstClass, February 4th, 1918. Placed on detached service, May 18th, 1918, and assigned as Battery Clerk, First Provisional Battery, FourthOfficers' Training School, Camp Meade. Rejoined Battery D June 27th, 1918, and accompanied outfit to France. Assigned to attend CamouflageSchool at Camp La Courtine, September 30th, 1918, and qualified asartillery camouflager. On October 3rd, 1918, was registered, throughMajor A.  L. James. Jr. , Chief G-2-D, G.  H.  Q. , A.  E.  F. , with theAmerican Press Section, 10 Rue St. Anne, Paris, which registrationcarried grant to write for publication in the United States. Remainedwith battery until March 7th, 1919, when selected to attend theA.  E.  F. University, at Beaune, Cote D'Or. Rejoined battery at St. Nazaire May 1st, 1919. Discharged at Camp Dix, N.  J. , June 4th, 1919. ] FOREWORD. "You're in the Army now. " "So this is France!" Oft I heard these phrases repeated as more and more the realizationdawned, first at Camp Meade, Md. , and later overseas, that war seemedmostly drudgery with only the personal satisfaction of doing one'sduty and that Sunny France was rainy most of the time. The memory of Battery D, 311th U.  S.  F.  A. , will never fade in utteroblivion in the minds of its members. 'Tis a strange fancy of nature, however, gradually to forget many of the associations andcircumstances of sombre hue as the silver linings appear in ourrespective clouds of life in greater radiance as each day finds usdrifting farther from ties of camp life. Soldiers, who once enjoyed the comradeship of camp life, where theymade many acquaintances and mayhap friends, are now scattered in allwalks of civilian life. While their minds are yet alive with facts andfigures, time always effaces concrete absorptions. The time will comewhen a printed record of Battery D will be a joyous reminder. With these facts in mind I have endeavored to set forth a history ofthe events of the battery and the names and addresses of those whobelonged. The records are true to fact and figure, being compilations of mydiaries, note-books and address album, all verified with utmost carebefore publication. In future years when the ex-service men and their friends glance overthis volume, if a moment of pleasant reminiscence is added, this bookwill have fully served its purpose. WILLIAM ELMER BACHMAN, 1920. Hazleton, Penna. PREFATORY NOTE. An effort has been made in this volume to state as concisely andclearly as possible the main events connected with the History ofBattery D. To recount in print every specific incident connected with the life ofthe organization, or to attempt a military biographical sketch ofevery battery member, would require many volumes. My soldier-comrade readers will, no doubt, recall many instances whichcould have been included in this volume with marked appropriateness. The selection of the material, however, has been with utmostconsideration and for the expressed purpose of having the completenarrative give the non-military reader a general view of theconditions and experiences that fell to the lot of the average unit inthe United States Army in service in this country and overseas. Grateful acknowledgment is due to those who aided in the verificationof all material used. Many of the battery members made suggestionsthat have been embodied in the text. To A. Ernest Shafer, D.  C. , and Conrad A. Balliet, of Hazleton, Penna. , belongs credit for information supplied covering periods whenthe author was on detached service from the battery. To Dr. Shaferacknowledgment is also due for the use of photographs from which anumber of the illustrations have been reproduced. From Prof. Fred H. Bachman, C.  A.  C. , of Hazleton, Penna. , who readover the manuscript, many valuable suggestions were received. W.  E.  B. Hazleton, Penna. , 1920. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. SOURCES OF THE DELTA World Events--The Nucleus--Declaration of War. U.  S. Joins--Selective Service Plans. CHAPTER II. A CAMP BELCHED FORTH Selection of Camp Meade Site--Cantonment Construction Building Progresses--Home Leaving Preparations. CHAPTER III. "YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW" Officers at Fort Niagara--Assignment of Officers Barrack org. --New Soldiers Arrive. CHAPTER IV. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Description of Barracks--A Day's Routine--Getting Catalogued--Inoculations and Drills--Soldiers Arrive and Leave. CHAPTER V. LEARNING TO BE A SOLDIER First Non-Commissioned Personnel--Effects of Transfers--Schools--Hikes--Athletics--Idle Hours. CHAPTER VI. FLEETING HOURS OF LEAVE Holiday Season Approaches--Thanksgiving Feast Practice Marches--Barrack 0103--Christmas 1917. CHAPTER VII. WELL GROOMED BY DETAIL Stable Police--Inspections--Staff Changes. CHAPTER VIII. BATTERY PROGRESS Formal Retreat--Quarantine--Celebration--Rumors. Baltimore Parade--West Elkridge Hike. CHAPTER IX. FAREWELL TO CAMP MEADE Getting Ready--Advance Detail--Departure. CHAPTER X. ABOARD THE S.  S. MORVADA Set-Sailing--Coastland Appears--Halifax Harbor--Convoy Assembles. CHAPTER XI. DODGING SUBMARINES Ocean Journey Starts--Transport Life--Sub Scares. Destroyers Delayed--Battle With Subs. CHAPTER XII. A ROYAL WELSH RECEPTION Barry, South Wales--Parade--His Majesty's Letter. English Rail Journey. CHAPTER XIII. A BRITISH REST CAMP Crowded Tenting--English Mess--A Rainy Hike. Off for Southampton--Flight Across the Channel. CHAPTER XIV. "SO THIS IS FRANCE!" Cherbourg--A Battery Bath--Side-Door Pullmans. Montmorillon. CHAPTER XV. WHITE TROOPS INVADE MONTMORILLON Racial Difficulties--French Billets--Impressions. The Gartempe. CHAPTER XVI. ACTIVE TRAINING AT LA COURTINE To La Courtine--French Artillery Camp--Russian Revolt--Life on the Range--Sickness--Casualties. CHAPTER XVII. NOVEMBER 11th AT LA COURTINE November 7th--November 11th--Celebration--Farewell Banquet--Ville Sous La Ferte--Fuel Details--Delayed Departure. CHAPTER XVIII. MUD AND BLANCHEVILLE Mud and Rats--Historic Monteclair--Thanksgiving 1918--Candle Mystery--Sick Horses Arrive. CHAPTER XIX. AN ADVENTUROUS CONVOY Belgian Trip Proposed--100 Volunteers--Remount 13--Convoying Mules--Christmas 1918. CHAPTER XX. ON THE ROAD TO BENOITE VAUX Anxious to Join Division--First Service Stripe--A.  E.  F. Leave Centers--Mounted Hikes--Overland to Benoite Vaux. CHAPTER XXI. WAR ORPHANS AND HORSE SHOWS Two Battery Mascots--Battalion and Regimental Shows--Division and Corps Shows--More Personnel Changes--Maneuvres--More Sickness and Casualties. CHAPTER XXII. HOMEWARD BOUND Boncourt--Cirey les Mareilles--Divisional Review. Camp Montoir--St. Nazaire--Edward Luckenbach--New York--Camp Dix--Home. CHAPTER XXIII. THE LORRAINE CROSS Story of the Seventy-Ninth Divisional Insignia. CHAPTER XXIV. BATTERY D HONOR ROLL Names of Those Who Died and Graves Where Buried. CHAPTER XXV. "ONE OF US" Tribute to Private First Class Joseph A. Loughran. CHAPTER XXVI. IN MEMORIAM In Memory of Departed Comrades. CHAPTER XXVII. FIRST BATTERY D STAFF First Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Personnel. CHAPTER XXVIII. BATTERY D OFFICERS Complete List of Officers Associated With the Battery. CHAPTER XIX. ROSTER OF BATTERY D List of Names That Comprised the Sailing List of the U.  S.  S. Edward Luckenbach. CHAPTER XXX. RECORD OF BATTERY TRANSFERS Those Who Gained Commissions--List of Men Transferred to Other Organizations. CHAPTER XXXI. PERSONALITIES A Few Battery Reflections. CHAPTER XXXII. A FEW GENERAL ORDERS Messages From Several of the Officers. CHAPTER XXXIII. MEMORABLE DATES Calendar of Battery's Eventful Dates. LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCTIONS. Group Photo of Battery D William Elmer Bachman Albert L. Smith David A. Reed Perry E. Hall Sidney F. Bennett C.  D. Bailey Frank J. Hamilton Third Class French Coach Side-Door Pullman Special Interior of French Box Car A Real American Special Montmorillon Station Montmorillon Street Scene Entrance to Camp La Courtine American Y.  M.  C.  A. At Camp La Courtine A Battery D Kitchen Crew Group of Battery D Sergeants Battery D on the Road Aboard The Edward Luckenbach At Bush Terminal Serving Battery Mess Along the Road Battery D on the Road Lorraine Cross Joseph A. Loughran Cemetery at La Courtine Horace J. Fardon Grave of William Reynolds Barrack at Camp La Courtine CHAPTER I. SOURCES OF THE DELTA. Official records in the archives of the War Department at Washingtonwill preserve for future posterity the record of Battery D, of the311th United States Field Artillery. In those records there is written deep and indelibly the date of May30th, 1919, as the date of Battery D's official demobilization. Thehistory of Battery D, therefore, can be definitely terminated, but amore difficult task is presented in establishing a point of inception. The development of Battery D was gradual--like a tiny stream, flowingon in its course, converging with the 311th Regimental, 154th Brigade, and 79th Division tides until it reached the sea of war-tossed Europe;there to flow and ebb; finally to lose its identity in the ocean ofofficial discharge. The Egyptians of old traversed the course of their river Nile, fromits indefinite sources along the water-sheds of its plateaux andmountains, and, upon arriving at its mouth they found a tract of landenclosed by the diverging branches of the river's mouth and theMediterranean seacoast, and traversed by other branches of the river. This triangular tract represented the Greek letter "Delta, " a wordwhich civilization later adopted as a coinage of adequate description. Fine silt, brought down in suspension by a muddy river and depositedto form the Delta when the river reaches the sea, accumulates frommany sources. In similar light the silt of circumstances that resulted in theformation of the Delta of the Triple Elevens, accumulated from manysources, the very nucleus transpiring on June 28, 1914, when the heirto the Austrian throne, the archduke of Austria, and his wife, wereassassinated at Sarajevo, in the Austrian province of Bosnia, by aSerbian student. Austria immediately demanded reparation from Serbia. Serbia declaredherself willing to accede to all of Austria's demands, but refused tosacrifice her national honor. Austria thereby took the pretext torenew a quarrel that had been going on for centuries. Long diplomatic discussions resulted--culminating on July 28, 1914, with a declaration of war by Austria against Serbia. This, so tospeak, opened the flood-gates, letting loose the mighty river of bloodand slaughter that flowed over all Europe. The days that followed added new sensations and thrills toevery life. The river of war flowed nearer our own peaceful shores asthe days passed and the news dispatches brought us the intelligence ofGermany's declaration of relentless submarine warfare and thesubsequent announcement of the United States' diplomatic break withGermany. Momentum was gained as reports of disaster and wilful acts followedwith increasing rapidity. The sinking of American vessels disclosed aruthlessness of method that was gravely condemned in PresidentWilson's message of armed-neutrality, only to be followed by acts ofmore wilful import--finally evoking the proclamation, April 6, 1917, declaring a state of war in existence between the United States andthe Imperial German government. Clear and loud war's alarm rang throughout the United States. Allactivity centered in the selection of a vast army to aid in the greatfight for democracy. Plans were promulgated with decision andpreciseness. On June 5th, 1917, ten millions of Americans between theages of 21 and 31 years, among the number being several hundred whowere later to become associated with Battery D, of the 311th F.  A. , registered for military service. The war department issued an order, July 13, 1917, calling intomilitary service 678, 000 men, to be selected from the number whoregistered on June 5th. Days of conjecture followed. Who would becalled first? July 20th brought forth the greatest lottery of all time. The drawingof number 258 by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker started the list ofselective drawings to determine the order of eligibility of the youngmen in the 4, 557 selective districts in the United States. War's preparations moved rapidly. Selective service boards, with duedeliberation, made ready for the organization of the selectivecontingents. While the boards toiled and the eligible young men wentthrough the process of examination, resulting in acceptance orrejection, officials of the war department were planning the camps. Battery D and the 311th Field Artillery were in the stages oforganization but plans of military housing had to mature before theyoung men who were to form the organization, could be inducted intoservice, thereby bringing to official light The Delta of the TripleElevens. CHAPTER II. A CAMP BELCHED FORTH. On that eventful day in 1914, when the war clouds broke over Europe, the farmers of Anne Arundel county, Maryland, in the then peacefulland of the United States, toiled with their ploughshares under theglisten of the bright sun; content with their lot of producing morethan half of the tomato crop of the country; content to harvest theirabundant crops of strawberries and cucumbers and corn, to say nothingof the wonderful orchards of apples and pears, and not forgetting thewild vegetation of sweet potatoes. The peaceful, pastoral life in the heart of Maryland, however, wasdestined to be disturbed. A vast American army was needed and the vastarmy, then in the process of organization, needed an abode fortraining. Battery D and the 311th Field Artillery was organized onpaper soon after the call for 678, 000 selected service men was decidedupon. The personnel of the new organization was being determined bythe selective service boards. Officers to command the organizationwere under intensive instruction at Fort Niagara, New York. All thatwas needed to bring the organization into official military being wasa point of concentration. The task of locating sites for the sixteen army cantonments, decreedto birth throughout the United States, presented many difficulties. What could be more natural, however, than the fertile farm lands ofAnne Arundel county, almost within shadow of the National Capital, tobe selected as the site of a cantonment to be named after GeneralGeorge Gordon Meade? Territory in the immediate vicinity of Admiral and Disney was theideal selection: ideal because the territory is only eighteen milesfrom Baltimore, the metropolis of the South; one hundred miles fromPhiladelphia, the principal city of the State which was to furnishmost of the recruits; and twenty-two miles from Washington, theCapital of the Nation. Situated between the heart of the South and the heart of the Nation, Camp Meade is easily accessible by rail. Ease of access throughmail-line facilities, was a necessity for transportation of buildingmaterials and supplies before and during construction. The samefacilities furnished the transportation for the large bodies of troopsthat were sent to and from the camp; also assured the cantonment itsdaily supply of rations. Admiral Junction furnished adequate railroad yard for the camp. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad station is at Disney, about one-halfmile west of Admiral; while the Pennsylvania Railroad junction on themain line between Baltimore and Washington is at Odenton, about oneand one-half miles east of Admiral. Naval Academy Junction is nearOdenton and is the changing point on the electric line between the twochief cities. The magic-like upbuild of the cantonment, moreover, wasthe signal for the extension of the electric line to encircle the verycenter of the big military city, thus adding an additional link ofconvenience. Camp Meade having been officially decided upon as the home of the 79thDivision, a sanitary engineer, a town planner, and an army officer, representing the commanding general, were named to meet on the ground, where they inspected the location, estimated its difficulties, andthen proceeded to make a survey in the quickest way possible, callingupon local engineers for assistance and asking for several railroadengineering corps. The town-planner, or landscape architect, then drew the plans for thecantonment, laying it out to conform with the topography of thelocation and taking into consideration railroad trackage, roads, drainage, and the like. Given the site it was the job of thetown-planner to distribute the necessary buildings and grounds of atypical cantonment as shown in type plans. The general design for the camp was prepared by Harlan P. Kelsey, of"city beautiful" fame, who was one of the experts called on by the wardepartment to aid the government in the emergency of preparing forwar. After the town-planner came Major Ralph F. Proctor, of Baltimore, Md. , who on July 2nd, 1917, as constructing quartermaster, look charge ofthe task of building the cantonment. Standing on the porch of a littleframe-house situated on a knoll, set in the midst of a pine forest, Major Proctor gave the order that set saw and axe in motion; saws andaxes manned by fifteen thousand workmen, consecrated to the task ofthrowing up a war-time city in record time. Chips flew high and trees were felled and soon the knoll belched fortha group of buildings, fringed by the pine of the forest--to bededicated as divisional headquarters--around which, with speednone-the-less magic-like, land encircling was cleared and buildingsand parade grounds sprang up in quick succession. The dawn of September month saw over one thousand wooden barrackserected on the ground, most of which were spacious enough to providesleeping quarters for about two hundred and fifty men; also hundredsof other buildings ready to be occupied for administrative purposes. While workmen of all trades diligently plied their hands to the workof constructing the cantonment, hundreds of young men were gettingready to leave their homes on September 5th, as the van-guard of the40, 000 who were in the course of time to report to Camp Meade formilitary duty. The cantonment, however, was not fully prepared toreceive them and while the first contingent of Battery D men wereinducted into service on September 5th, the cantonment was not deemedsufficiently ready to receive them until almost two weeks later. [Illustration: *CAPT. ALBERT L. SMITH*] ARMY RECORD. Discharged from the National Guard of Pennsylvania, First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, after seven years of service, to enterFirst Officers' Training Camp at Camp Niagara, N.  Y. , May 8th, 1917. Commissioned Captain, Field Artillery Reserve, August 15th, 1917, andordered to report to Camp Meade, Md. , August 29th, 1917. Placed incommand of Battery D, 311th Field Artillery. Accompanied battery toFrance and remained with outfit until ordered to Paris on temporaryduty in the Inspector General's Department, February, 1919. Rejoinedregiment to become Regimental Adjutant May 6th, 1919. Discharged atCamp Dix, N.  J. , May 30th, 1919. ] CHAPTER III. YOU'RE IN THE ARMY NOW. At Fort Niagara, situated on the bleak shores of the River Niagara, New York State, the nucleus of the first commissioned personnel ofBattery D assembled, after enlistment, during the month of May, 1917, and began a course of intensive training at the First Officers'Training School, finally to be commissioned on August 15th in theField Artillery Reserve. On August 13th, pursuant to authority contained in a telegram from theAdjutant General of the Army, a detachment of the Reserve Officersfrom the Second Battery at Fort Niagara were ordered to active dutywith the New National Army, proceeding to and reporting in person notlater than August 29th to the Commanding General, Camp Meade, forduty. A day's brief span after their arrival at Camp Meade--while theofficers, who were the first of the new army units on the scene oftraining, were busily engaged in dragging their brand new campparaphernalia over the hot sands of July-time Meade, --the dirt andsand mingling freely with the perspiration occasioned by the broilingsun, --to their first assigned barracks in B block, an order arrived onAugust 30th, assigning the officers to the various batteries, headquarters, supply company, or regimental staff of the 311th FieldArtillery, that was to be housed in O block of the cantonment. Captain Albert L. Smith, of Philadelphia, Pa. , was placed in commandof Battery D. Other assignments to Battery D included: FirstLieutenant Arthur H. McGill, of New Castle, Pa. ; Second LieutenantHugh M. Clarke, of Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Second Lieutenant Robert S. Campbell, of Pittsburgh, Pa. ; Second Lieutenant Frank F. Yeager, ofPhiladelphia, Pa. ; Second Lieutenant Frank J. Hamilton, ofPhiladelphia, Pa. ; Second Lieutenant Berkley Courtney, of Fullerton, Md. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G. Mortimer was placed in command of theregiment on August 28, 1917. He remained in command until January 17, 1918, when Colonel Raymond W. Briggs was assigned as regimentalcommander. Both are old army men and were well trained for the post ofcommand. On March 31st, Col. Briggs, who had been in France andreturned to take command of the 311th, was again relieved of command, being transferred to another outfit to prepare for overseas duty asecond time. Lieut. Col. Mortimer had charge until June 10th, 1918, when he was promoted to Colonel, remaining in commanduntil the regiment was mustered out of service. Major David A. Reed, of Pittsburgh, Pa. , was placed in command of the2nd Battalion of the 311th at organization and remained with theoutfit until put on detached service in France after the signing ofthe armistice. Major Herbert B. Hayden, a West Point cadet, wasassigned to the command of the 1st Battalion of the regiment. Whentime to depart for overseas came he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonelof the regiment. Capt. Wood, of Battery A, was made Major of the 1stBattalion and First-Lieut. Arthur McGill, of Battery D, was placed incommand of Battery A. Later he was given the rank of captain. Major-General Joseph E. Kuhn was commanding officer of the 79thDivision and Brigadier General Andrew Hero, Jr. , commanded the 154thField Artillery Brigade. "O" block, in the plan of Camp Meade, was designated as the trainingcenter of the 311th Field Artillery and barrack No. 19 was the shelterselected for Battery D. Barrack 019 was situated in a small glade of trees which fringed theedge of the horse-shoe curve that the general plan of cantonmentconstruction assumed. The spurs of the great horse-shoe were at Disneyand Admiral. The blocks of regimental areas starting at Disney, designated by A block, followed the horse-shoe, encircling at the basehospital in alphabetical designation. "N" and "O" blocks nestled in aglade of trees, partially sheltered from the Southern sun, just aroundthe bend in the curve of the road from the base-hospital. "Y" blockformed the other end of the spur at Admiral--while divisionalheadquarters rested on the knoll in the center of the horse-shoe. It was at "O" block the newly assigned officers established themselvesand made ready to receive the first influx of the selected personnel. Blankets and cots and barrels and cans and kitchen utensils began toarrive by the truck load and the officers in feverish haste dividedthe blankets, put up as many cots as they could, and established somesemblance of order in the mess hall. They were pegging diligently attheir tasks when the first troop trains pulled in at Disney onSeptember 19th and unloaded the first detachment of future soldiers. Scenes of home-leaving and farewells to the home-folks and loved ones, which first transpired on September 19th, to be repeated withsimilarity as subsequent quotas of recruits entrained for militaryservice, were of too sacred a nature to attempt an adequatedescription. What might have been the thoughts of the individual at the breaking ofhome-ties and during the long, tiresome railroad journey to CampMeade, were buried deep in the heart, to be cherished as a futurememory only. Personal griefs were hidden as those seven hundred youngmen in civilian clothes stepped from the train at Disney, graspedtheir suit case, box, or bundle, firmly and set out on the mile and aquarter hike through the camp--past divisional headquarters;perspiring freely under the heat of the setting sun. It was with anappearance of carelessness and humor they jaunted along, singing attimes, "You're in the Army Now"--finally to breast the rise of thehill previous to "O" block, the descent thereof which was to mark thefirst stage of their transformation from civilian to soldier. Descent of the hill lead down to a sandy square in front of a longbuilding that housed regimental headquarters. After, what seemed likehours to the recruits lined-up, roll of the seven hundred was called, divisions made, and the first quota of Battery D was marched to 019. [Illustration: *MAJOR DAVID A. REED* ARMY RECORD. Enlisted in the service of the United States Army, May 11th, 1917, and received commission as Major at the First Officers' Training Camp, Fort Niagara. N.  Y. Was ordered to Camp Meade. Md. , August 29th, 1917, and placed in command of the Second Battalion, 311th Field Artillery. Accompanied the outfit to France. On detached service with theInterallied Armistice Commission, Spa, Belgium, from November 20th, 1918, to February 1st, 1919. Was awarded the French Legion of Honormedal April 4th, 1919. Discharged February 26th, 1919. Got commissionas Lieutenant-Colonel in the Field Artillery Reserve, August 6th, 1919. ] CHAPTER IV. FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Iron-bound was the rule. You couldn't escape it. Every selected manwho entered Camp Meade had to submit. Of course, the new recruits weregiven a dinner shortly after their arrival--but not without firsttaking a bath. 019, like all the other barracks of the cantonment, was a woodenstructure, 150 x 50 feet, two stories in height. Half of the firstfloor housed the kitchen and dining hall while the remainder of thebuilding was given over to sleeping quarters, with the exception of acorner set apart as the battery office and supply room--a mostbusiness-like place, from which the soldier usually steered shy, unless he wanted something, or had a kick to register about serving asK.  P. , or on some other official detail when he remembered having donea turn at the said detail just a few days previous. The rows of army cots and army blankets presented a different pictureto the new soldier at first appearance, in comparison to the snug bedroom, with its sheets and comfortables, that remained idle back home. The first night's sleep, however, was none-the-less just, the sameCamp Meade cot furnishing the superlative to latter comparisons when aplank in a barn of France felt good to weary bones. Before rolling-in the first night every one was made acquainted withreveille, but no one expected to be awakened in the middle of thenight by the bugle calling, "I Can't Get 'Em Up, etc. , etc. " Could itbe a mistake? No, indeed, it was 5:15 a. M. , and the soldier wassummoned to roll-out and prepare for his first real day as a soldier. "Get dressed in ten minutes and line up outside in battery-front forroll call, " was the first order of the day. Then followed a fewprecious moments for washing up in the Latrine, which was a large bathhouse connected with the barrack. Before the call, "Come and Get It" was sounded the more ambitious ofthe recruits folded their blankets and tidied up their cots. When messcall was sounded but few had to be called the second time. The hour of 7:30 was set for the day's work to begin, the firstcommand of which was "Outside, and Police-Up. " In the immediatevicinity of the battery area there was always found a multitude ofcigarette butts, match stems, chewing gum wrappers, and what not, andthe place had to be cleaned up every morning. If Battery D hadsaved all the "snips" and match stems they policed-up and placed themend by each the Atlantic could have been spanned and the expense ofthe Steamship Morvada probably saved. The first few weeks of camp life were not strenuous in the line ofmilitary routine. Detail was always the long-suit at Camp Meade. During the first few days at camp if the new recruit was lucky enoughto be off detail work, the time was usually employed in filling outqualification cards, identification cards; telling your familyhistory; making application for government insurance; subscribing toLiberty bonds; telling what you would like to be in the army; whereyou wanted your remains shipped; getting your finger-prints taken, andalso getting your first jab in the arm which gave the first insightinto a typhoid inoculation. When a moment of ease presented itself during the lifeexamination--the supply sergeant got busy and started to hand out whatexcess supplies he had and, in the matter of uniforms, of which therewas always an undercess, measurements were taken with all theexactness and precision befitting a Fifth Avenue tailoringestablishment. Why measurements were ever taken has ever remained amystery, because almost every soldier can remember wearing hiscivilian clothes thread-bare by the time the supply sergeant was ableto snatch up a few blouses and trousers at the quartermasters. Andthese in turn were passed out to the nearest fits. It was a case ofline-up and await your turn to try and get a fit, but a mental fitalmost always ensued in the game of line-up for this and line-up forthat in the army. After being enmeshed in such a coil of red tape all of one whole day, 5 o'clock sounded Retreat, when instruction was given on how to standat ease; how to assume the position of "parade-rest"; then, to snapinto attention. Evening mess was always a joyful time, as was the evening, when thesoldier was free to visit the Y.  M.  C.  A. And later the LibertyTheatre, or partake of the many other welfare activities thatdeveloped in the course of time. From the first day, however, 9:45 p. M. Was the appointed hour that called to quarters, and taps at 10o'clock each night sounded the signal for lights out and everybody inbunk. The inoculations were three in number, coming at ten day intervals. When it came time for the second "jab", the paper work was well underway and the call was issued for instruction on the field of drillto begin. Many a swollen arm caused gentle memories as part of eachday was gradually being given over to, first calesthenics, then to aknowledge of the school of the soldier. The recruit was taught thecorrect manner of salute, right and left face, about face, and doubletime. Newly designated sergeants and corporals were conscripted to the taskof squad supervision and many exasperating occasions arose when arecruit got the wrong "foots" in place and was commanded to "changethe foots. " Meals for the first contingent of pioneer recruits ranged from rank toworse, until the boys parted company with their French civilian cooksand set up their own culinary department with Sergeant Joseph A. Loughran, of Hazleton. Pa. , in charge. August H. Genetti and EdwardCampbell, both of Hazleton. Pa. ; George Musial, of Miners Mills, Pa. , and Charles A. Trostel, of Scranton, Pa. , were installed as thepioneer cooks. By this mess change the soldiers who arrived in latercontingents were served more on the American plan of cooking. On September 21st, 1917, came the second section of the selectedquotas, bringing more men to Battery D. Their reception varied littlefrom the first contingent's, with the exception that the first arrivedsoldiers were on the ground to offer all kinds of advice--some of theadvice almost scaring the new men stiff. The future contingents were greeted with a more completed camp, because the construction work was continued many weeks after thesoldiers began to arrive. And, in passing, it might be recorded, thatthe construction work continued long after the contractors finishedtheir contracts. Military-like it was done by "detail. " On October 4th and 5th more recruits arrived and then on November 2ndanother large contingent arrived and was assigned to Battery D. Thiswas the last selected quota to be received directly into the regiment, for, thereafter, the Depot Brigade received all the newly selectedmen. Almost all of the recruits of the first few contingents, including thedelegation that arrived on November 2nd, came from EasternPennsylvania, from the Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre districtsof the Middle Anthracite Coal Fields. The delegation that arrived onNovember 2nd was accompanied by St. Ann's Band, of Freeland, Pa. Theband remained in camp over the week-end, during which time anumber of concerts were rendered. The band was highly praised for itsinterest and patriotism. All the men originally assigned to Battery D were not to remain withthe organization throughout their military life. On October 15th, 1917, Battery D lost about half of its members in a quota of 500 ofthe regiment who were transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia. On November5th, two hundred more were transferred from the regiment and onFebruary 5th, seventy-two left to join the Fifth Artillery Brigade atCamp Leon Springs, Texas. The latter part of May Battery D received a share of 931 recruits sentto the regiment from the 14th Training Battalion of the 154th DepotBrigade at Camp Meade. On July 2nd and 3rd, one hundred and fifty morecame to the regiment from the Depot Brigade; 540 from Camp Dix, N.  J. , and Camp Upton, N.  Y. ; fifty from the aviation fields of the South;and a quota from the Quartermaster Corps in Florida. Many of these did not remain long with the battery. In the latter partof June and the beginning of July the battery was reduced to nearlyone-half and the March replacement draft to Camp Merritt tookthirty-two picked men from the regiment. This ended the transfers. While in progress, the transfers rendered the regiment like unto aDepot Brigade. Over four thousand men passed through the regiment, five hundred of the number passing through Battery D. CHAPTER V. LEARNING TO BE A SOLDIER. "Dress it up!" And-- "Make it snappy!" "One, two, three, four. " "Now you've got it!" "That's good. Hold it!" "Hep. " Battery D had lots of "pep" during the days of Camp Meade regime. First Sergeant William C. Thompson, of Forest, Mississippi, keptthings lively for the first few months with his little whistle, followed by the command, "Outside!" Merrill C. Liebensberger, of Hazleton, Penna. , served as the firstsupply sergeant of the battery. David B. Koenig, also of Hazleton, Penna. , ranking first as corporal and later as sergeant, was kept busywith office work, acting in the capacity of battery clerk. Lloyd E. Brown, of East Richmond, Indiana, served as the first instrumentsergeant of the battery. John M. Harman, of Hazleton, Penna. , was thefirst signal-sergeant to be appointed. It might be remarked in passing that Messrs. Thompson, Liebensberger, and Harman were destined for leadership rank. Before the outfit sailedfor overseas all three had gained application to officers' trainingschools, and were, in the course of time, commissioned as lieutenants. Battery Clerk Koenig continued to serve the outfit in an efficientmanner throughout its sojourn in France. Instrument-Sergeant Brownearly in 1918 answered a call for volunteers to go to France with atank corps. While serving abroad he succumbed to an attack ofpneumonia and his body occupies a hero's resting place in foreignsoil. A wonderful spirit was manifested in the affairs of Battery D despitethe fact that the constant transfer of men greatly hampered the workof assembling and training a complete battery for active service inFrance. Men who spent weeks in mastering the fundamentals of thesoldier regulations were taken from the organization, to be replacedby civilians, whereby the training had to start from thebeginning. This caused many changes in plans, systems, and policies. Rejections were also made for physical disabilities. For the greater part of the Camp Meade history of the battery, theorganization lacked sufficient men to perform all the detail work. Thus days and days passed without any military instruction beingimparted. Instruction in army signalling by wigwag and semaphore was startedwhenever a squad or two could be spared from the routine of detail. Then followed instruction on folding horse blankets, of care of horsesand harness, and lessons in equitation, carried out on barrels andlogs. Stables and corrals were in the course of construction. By the timesnow made its appearance in November horses were received, also moredetail. First lessons in the duties of gun-crews and driving squads were alsoattempted. Matériel was a minus quantity for a long time, woodenimitations sufficing for guns until several 3. 2's were procured forthe regiment. Later on the regiment was furnished with five 3-inchU.  S. Field pieces. Training then assumed more definite form. Forweeks and weeks the gun crews trained without any prospects of evergetting ammunition and firing actual salvos. Learning to be a soldier also developed into a process of going toschool. Men were assigned to attend specialty classes. Schools wereestablished for gunners, schools for snipers, schools fornon-commissioned officers. Here it might be stated that the firstnon-coms envied the buck-privates when it came to attendingnon-commissioned officers' school one night a week when all the buckswere down enjoying the show at the Y hut or the Liberty Theatre. Schools were started for all kinds of special and mechanical duty men;schools to teach gas-defense; buzzer schools; telephone schools;smoke-bomb and hand-grenade courses; and map-reading and sketchingschools. Sergeant Earl H. Schleppy, of Hazleton, Penna. , who assistedin the battery office work before he was appointed supply-sergeant, developed extra lung capacity while the various schools were inprogress. It became his duty to assemble the diverse classes prior tothe start of instruction. He was kept busy yelling for the soldiers toassemble for class work. It soon developed in the minds of the men that war-time military lifewas mostly drudgery with only the personal satisfaction of doingone's duty. Hardships and drudgery, however, did not mar theambition of the soldier for recreation. Baltimore and Washington werenearby and passes were in order every Saturday to visit these cities. Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, during the first few months of camplife, were off-periods for the soldiers, but later Wednesday afternoondeveloped as an afternoon of sport and the men took keen interest inthe numerous athletic interests which were promoted. On Tuesday, November 6th, a half-holiday was proclaimed and ElectionDay observed throughout the camp. The soldiers who availed themselvesof the opportunity of marking the complicated soldier ballot that wasprovided, cast the last vote, in many instances, until after theirofficial discharge. Daily hikes were on the program in the beginning to develop a hardnessof muscle in the new soldiers. Lieut. Robert Campbell was in charge ofthe majority of the daily hikes at the off-set. His hobby was to hikea mile then jaunt a mile. When it came to long distant running Lieut. Campbell was on the job. He made many a soldier sweat in the attemptto drag along the hob-nailed field shoes on a run. Hikes later wereconfined to Wednesday afternoon. Battery D always put up a good showing in the numerous athleticcontests. On Saturday, November 10th, the Battery won the secondbanner in the Inter-Battalion Meet; in celebration of which a paradeand demonstration was held on the afternoon of the victory day. Music was not lost sight of. The boys of Battery D collected the sumof $175 for the purchase of a piano for barrack 019. Phil Cusick, ofParsons, Penna. , was the one generally sought out to keep the ivoriesbusy. November 19th witnessed the first gathering together of theregiment on the parade grounds for a big song fest under theleadership of the divisional music director. Battery and battalionsong jubilees were conducted at intervals in the O block Y hut. CHAPTER VI. FLEETING HOURS OF LEAVE Towering like a giant over the uniform type of barrack and buildingsat Camp Meade, stood a large observation tower, situated on what wasknown as the "plaza, " the site of divisional headquarters. A generalpanorama from this tower was an inspiring sight. Radiating from theplaza, extending for several miles in any direction the gaze wasfocused, there appeared the vista of the barracks of the troopstogether with the sectional Y.  M.  C.  A. 's canteens, stables, corralsand other supply and administration buildings; also the interposing, spacious drill fields. The beauty of this scene was enhanced by the mantle of snow that oftengarbed it during the winter mouths. To see a city of 40, 000 in suchuniformity as marked the cantonment construction; with its buildingscovered with snow; the large drill fields spread with a blanket ofsnow; and, a snow storm raging--is a tonic for any lover of nature. On the night of Wednesday, November 28th, the first snow greeted thenew soldiers at Camp Meade. The ground, robed in white, breathed thespirit of the approaching holiday season. The coming of Thanksgivingfound discussion in 019 centered on the subject of passes to visit"home. " On November 24th fifteen of D battery men were granted forty-eighthour leaves and departed for their respective homes. All the officersremained in camp and planned with the men to enjoy the holiday. The Thanksgiving dinner enjoyed by Battery D was one never to beforgotten in army life. Mess-Sergeant Al Loughran and the batterycooks, ably championed by the K.  P. 's, worked hard for the success ofthe Thanksgiving battery dinner. Battalion and battery officers dinedwith the men, the noon-mess being attendant by the following menu: Oyster CocktailSnowed Potatoes Roast Turkey Turkey Filling Cranberry Sauce Celery Peas Oranges Apples Candy Cake Nuts Bread Butter Coffee Mince Pie Cigarettes Cigars Sweet dreams of this dinner often haunted the boys when"bully-beef" was the mainstay day after day many times during thesojourn in France. After the dinner officers and battery members adjourned to the secondfloor of the barrack where battery talent furnished an entertainment, consisting of instrumental and vocal numbers and winding up withseveral good boxing bouts. Barney McCaffery, of Hazleton, Penna. , aprofessional pugilist, was the pride of the battery in the ring. Corporal Frank McCabe, of Parsons, Penna. , was one of the realcomedians of the battery. His character impersonations enlivened manyan evening in 019. Every member of the outfit was deeply grieved whenCorporal McCabe was admitted to the base-hospital the latter part ofJanuary, suffering with heart trouble. On January 24th at 8:20 p. M. , Corporal McCabe died. This first casualty of the battery struck a noteof sympathetic appeal among the battery members. A guard of honor fromthe battery accompanied the body to Parsons where interment was madewith military honors. After Thanksgiving Battery D settled down to an intensive schedule ofinstruction. Days of rain, snow, and zero weather followed, making theroutine very disagreeable at times, but never acting as a demoralizer. Days that could not be devoted to out-door work were used to advantagefor the schedule of lecture periods during which the officersconducted black board drills to visualize many of the problemsconnected with artillery work. On December 6th, 1917, a series of regimental practice marches wereinstituted, first on foot, then on mount. The first mounted marches, however, were rather sore-ending affairs, as were the first lessons inequitation. Saddles and bridles were lacking as equipment for manyweeks after the receipt of the horses. Mounted drill, ridingbare-back, with nothing but a halter chain as a bridle, was theinitiatory degree of Battery D's equitation. Barrack 0103, about half the size and situated in the rear of 019, wascompleted on December 19th, when a portion of Battery D men werequartered in the new structure, thereby relieving the congestion in019. Christmas and New Year's of 1917 furnished another controversy on thequestion of holiday furloughs. On Saturday, December 15th, inspectionwas called off and forty men were detailed to bring more horsesfrom the Remount station for use in the battery. The detail completedits task faithfully, the men being happy in the thought that, according to instructions, they had, the night previous, madeapplication for Christmas passes. Gloom greeted the end of the day'shorse convoy. Announcement was made that all Christmas pass orders hadbeen rescinded in the camp. The gloom was not shattered until December 20th, when announcement wasmade at retreat formation that half of the battery would be allowedChristmas passes and the other half would be given furloughs over NewYear's Day. The loudest yell that ever greeted the "dismissed" commandat the close of retreat, rent the atmosphere at that time. More disappointments were in store for the boys before their dreams ofa furlough home were realized. Saturday, December 22nd, was decreed aday of martial review at Camp Meade. Secretary of War Newton D. Bakervisited the cantonment that day and the review was staged in hishonor. Battery D formed with the regiment on the battery street infront of 019 at 1:20 o'clock on the afternoon of the review. Theground was muddy and slushy. The regiment stood in formation until3:15 o'clock when the march to pass the reviewing stand started. At4:30 o'clock the review formation was dismissed and the boys dashedback to 019 to get ready to leave on their Christmas furloughs. It was a happy bunch that left 019 at 5:15 p. M. That day, under thedirection of Lieut. Berkley Courtney, bound for the railroad stationand home. An hour later the same bunch were seen trudging back to 019. Their happiness had suddenly taken wing. A mix-up in train schedulesleft them stranded in camp for the night, while the hours of theirpasses slowly ticked on, to be lost to their enjoyment. The "get-away" was successfully effected the next morning, Sunday, December 23rd, when the same contingent marched to Disney, reachingthe railroad yard at 7:30 o'clock, where they were doomed to waituntil 9:15 a. M. Until the train left for Baltimore. More favorable train connections fell to the lot of the New Year'ssojourners to the land of "home. " CHAPTER VII. WELL GROOMED BY DETAIL. "This is some job. " And the opinion was unanimous when stable detail at Camp Meade was inquestion, especially during the winter of 1917-18, which the Baltimoreweather bureau recorded as the coldest in 101 years. Stable detail atfirst consisted of five "buck" privates, whose duty it was to takecare of "Kaiser, " "Hay-Belly, " and all the other battery horses for aperiod of three days. When on stable detail you arose at 5:45 a. M. ; quietly dressed, without lights, went to the stables and breakfasted the animals. Ifyou were a speed artist you might get back in time for your ownbreakfast. After breakfast you immediately reported to the stable-sergeant, whowas Anthony Fritzen, of Scranton, Penna. The horses were then led tothe corral and the real stable duties of the day commenced. In leadingthe horses through the stable to the corral, the length of your lifewas dependant upon your ability to duck the hoofs of the onesremaining in the stables. When it came to cleaning the stables, many a "buck" private made aresolve that in the next war he was going to enlist as a"mule-skinner. " Driving the battery wagon bore the earmarks of being ajob of more dignity than loading the wagon. Besides cleaning the stables and "graining-up" for the horses, the dayof the stable police was spent in miscellaneous jobs, which SergeantFritzen never ran out of. The stable detail underwent changes as time wore on. A permanentstable man was assigned for every stable and the detail was reduced tothree privates. Stable police was of double import on Saturday mornings, preparatoryto the weekly inspection. Every branch and department of military lifehas a variety of inspections to undergo at periodical times. Theinspections keep the boys in khaki on the alert; cleanliness becomingsecond nature. Nowhere can a vast body of men live bachelor-like assoldiers do and maintain the degree of tidiness and general sanitaryhealthfulness, as the thorough arm of camp inspection and disciplinemaintains in the army. A daily inspection of barracks was in order at Camp Meade. Before the boys answered the first drill formation each morning theydid the housework. Everything had to be left spick and span. There wasa specific place for everything and everything had to be kept in itsplace. With mops and brooms and plenty of water the barracks were given agood scrubbing on Friday afternoons and things put in shape for theSaturday morning inspection. Besides the cleanup features a display oftoilet articles and wearing apparel had to be made. When theinspectors made their tour each bunk had to show a clean towel, toothbrush, soap, comb, pair of socks, and suit of underwear. The articleshad to be displayed on the bunk in a specific manner. "Show-Down" inspections were a big feature of the routine. Thisinspection required the soldier to produce all his wares and equipmentfor inventory. The supply officer and supply sergeant of the batterymade many rounds taking account of equipment that was short, butseveral more "show-downs" usually transpired before the lackingequipment was supplied. There was also a field inspection every Saturday morning, where thegeneral appearance of the soldier could be thoroughly scrutinized. Clean-shaven, neatly polished shoes, clean uniform with buttons allpresent and utilized, formed the determining percentage features. Whenthe inspection was mounted, horses and harness had to shine, the sameas the men. January 1920 ushered in a period of changes in the staff of officersfor Battery D, some of the changes being temporary, others permanent. Trials of sickness and quarantine were also in store for the battery. Early in January Capt. A.  L. Smith was called away from his militaryduties on account of the death of his father, Edward B. Smith, ofPhiladelphia, Penna. ; a bereavement which brought forth manyexpressions of sympathy from the men of his command. Captain Smith returned to camp the latter part of the month. Some timelater he was ordered to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to attend the artilleryschool of fire. Lieut. Hugh M. Clarke also left the battery to attendthe school of fire. First-Lieut. Arthur H. McGill was detached fromthe battery about this time and assigned as an instructor at theOfficers' Training School that was opened at Camp Meade. Lieut. RobertS. Campbell was transferred from Battery D at this time. First-Lieut. Robert Lowndes, of Elkridge. Md. , was assigned totemporary command of the battery. First-Lieut. J.  S. Waterfield, ofPortsmouth, Va. , served as an attached officer with D Battery for sometime. First Sergeant William C. Thompson and Supply Sergeant MerleLiebensberger were successful applicants to the officers' trainingschool at Meade. James J. Farrell, of Parsons, Penna. , was appointedacting first-sergeant and Thomas S. Pengelly, of Hazleton, Penna. , wasappointed acting supply sergeant, both appointments later being madepermanent. CHAPTER VIII. BATTERY PROGRESS. "Retreat, " the checking-in or accounting for all soldiers at the closeof a day's routine, was made a formal affair for the 311th FieldArtillery on January 13th, 1918. The erection of a new flag pole infront of regimental headquarters furnished occasion for the formalformation when the Stars and Stripes are lowered to the strain of "TheStar Spangled Banner" or the "Call to the Colors. " When the formal retreat was established Battery D was in the throes ofa health quarantine. A case of measles developed in the battery and aneighteen-day quarantine went into effect on January 19th. About ascore of battery members, who were attending speciality schools and onspecial detail work, were quartered with Battery E of the regimentwhile the quarantine lasted. On March 24th scarlet fever broke out and a second quarantine was putinto effect. This quarantine kept Battery D from sharing in the Easterfurloughs to visit home. The regular routine of fatigue duty and drill formations took placeduring the quarantine periods, the restrictions being placed on themen leaving the battery area between drill hours. On March 6th Battery D took occasion to celebrate. The battery kitchenhad been thoroughly renovated by Mechanic Grover C. Rothacker andMechanic Conrad A. Balliet, both of Hazleton, Penna. , the renovationplacing it in the class of "The best kitchen and mess hall in camp, "to quote the words of Major General Joseph E. Kuhn, divisionalcommander, when he inspected Battery D on Saturday, March 23rd. A fine menu was prepared for the banquet that was held on the night ofMarch 6th. Col. Raymond Briggs and the battalion officers were guestsat the banquet and entertainment that was furnished in the barracksuntil taps sounded an hour later than usual that night. Details continued to play a big part in the life of Battery D. OnMarch 11th the first detail of fifty men was sent to repair thehighway near Portland. These details had a strenuous time of it; thehardest work most of the detail accomplished was dodging lieutenants. Transfers had made big inroads in the battery's strength. Guard dutyfell to the lot of the battery once a week. When the guard detail wasfurnished there were scarcely enough men left to do the kitchenpolice work and other detail work. It was a time when rank imposedobligation. Sergeants and corporals had to get busy and chop wood andcarry coal and wash dishes and police up and in many other waysimitate the buck private. On March 5th Lieut. Frank Yeager inaugurated a system of dailyinspections at retreat, when the two neatest appearing men in linewere cited each day and rewarded with a week-end pass to visitBaltimore or Washington, while those who got black marks for the weekwere put on detail work over the week-end. A list of honorablementions was also established for general tidiness at "bunk"inspections. Rumor was ever present at Camp Meade. Almost every event thattranspired was a token of early departure overseas, or else the"latrine-dope" had it that the outfit was to be sent to Tobyhanna forrange practice. The first real evidence of overseas service presented itself duringMarch when physical examinations were in order to test the physicalfitness for overseas duty. Several, who it was deemed could notphysically stand foreign service, were in due time transferred tovarious posts of the home-guards. Several transfers were also made tothe ordnance department; a number of chemists were detached from thebattery, and transfers listed for the cooks' and bakers' school, forthe quartermasters, for the engineers, for the signal corps, in factmen were sent to practically all branches in the division. On Saturday, March 30th, wrist watches were turned to 11 o'clock whentaps sounded, ushering in the daylight savings scheme that routed theboys out for reveille during the wee dark hours of the morning. Training during April centered on actual experience in taking to themarch with full mounted artillery sections. April 4th, 1918, found adetail from Battery D leaving camp at 8 a. M. , with a section ofprovisional battery, enroute to Baltimore to take part in the bigparade in honor of the opening of the Liberty Loan drive on the firstanniversary of America's entrance into the war. While in Baltimore theoutfit pitched camp in Clifton Park. The parade, which was reviewed byPresident Woodrow Wilson, took place on Saturday, April 6th. Thedetachment returned to camp by road on Sunday, April 7th. During April a decree went forth to the Battery that set detailsat work every day clipping horses. Every one of the one hundred andsixty-four battery horses was clipped. The morning of Friday, April 26th, was declared a holiday at CampMeade; all units being called forth to participate in a divisionalparade and Liberty Loan rally. A battery hike in march order was set for May 6th. The battery took tothe road at 8 a. M. , and drove through Jessup, thence to WestElkridge, Md. , a distance of sixteen miles, where camp was pitched andthe battery remained for the night, returning to camp the followingafternoon after several firing problems in the field were worked outby proxy fire. Chances for a quick departure overseas began to warm up about themiddle of May, which perhaps was responsible for the big divisionalbon-fire that was burned on the night of May 13th. [Illustration: CAPT. PERRY E. HALL LIEUT. SIDNEY F. BENNETT LIEUT. C.  D. BAILEY LIEUT. FRANK J. HAMILTON _Officers Associated withBattery D. _] CHAPTER IX. FAREWELL TO CAMP MEADE. First authentic signs of departure from Camp Meade came during themonth of June when the boys witnessed the departure of the infantryregiments of the division. Void of demonstrative sendoff, regiment after regiment, fully andnewly equipped, was departing on schedule; thousands and thousands ofsturdy Americans, ready to risk all for the ideals of liberty andfreedom. It was with no unsteady step they marched through the streets of themilitary city that had sheltered, trained, tanned, and improved themaright for the momentous task which was before them. The scene, as they marched, is one that will live in memory of theboys of Battery D. It was no dress parade such as the march of likethousands in a civilian city would occasion. Battery D men and otherswere spectators, it is true, and the departing ones were sent off, aswas later the case with Battery D, with cheers of encouragement andwords of God-speed--the spirit breathed being of hearty, thoughtfulpatriotism such as can come only from a soldier who is bidding adieuto a comrade in arms, whom he will meet again in a common cause. Wonderful days of activity within Battery D foretold the news ofdeparture. The regiment was in first class shape to look forward toservice overseas, despite the fact that range-practice was anegligible factor. During the latter part of May, firing, to a limitedextent, was practiced from the three-inch field pieces directed overthe Remount station, but the experience thus gained was too light tobe important. About this time a French type of 75 mm. Field piece wasshipped to the regiment. Major David A. Reed became the instructor onthis gun, when it became known that the outfit would likely be givenFrench equipment upon arrival overseas. One gun for the regiment, however, and especially when received only several weeks in advance ofthe departure for overseas, afforded but little opportunity forgeneral instruction on the mechanism of the new field piece. France, moreover, was the goal and the real range practice was left asa matter of course for over there. All activity centered on getting ready to depart. The batterycarpenters and painters were kept busy making boxes and labellingthem properly for the "American E.  F. " Harness was being cleanedand packed. The time came for the horses to be returned to the Remountstation. Supply sergeants were busy as bees supplying everybody withforeign service equipment. It proved a common occurrence to be routedout of bed at midnight to try on a pair of field shoes. All articlesof clothing and equipment had to be stamped, the clothing beingstamped with rubber stamps, while the metal equipment was stamped witha punch initial. Each soldier got a battery number which was stampedon his individual equipment. On June 28th, Joseph Loskill, of Hazleton, Penna. , and William F. Brennan, of Hazleton and Philadelphia, Penna. , were assigned toaccompany the advance detail of the regiment. Lieut. Arthur H. McGillwas the Battery D officer to accompany the advance detail, which leftCamp Meade about 7 p. M. , proceeding to Camp Merritt, N.  J. , forembarkation. The advance guard arrived at Jersey City the followingmorning at 6 o'clock, where they detrained and marched to the Ferry toget to Hoboken. There the detachment was divided, the officersboarding the S.  S. Mongolia, the enlisted men the S.  S. Duc d'Abruzzi. The ships left Hoboken at 10:30 a. M. , May 30th, bound for Brest. Battery D was filled to full war-strength during the first week ofJuly, just before departure, when the outfit received a quota of 150men who came to the regiment from the Depot Brigade. Five hundred andforty came to the regiment from Camp Upton, N.  Y. , and Camp Dix, N.  J. , and fifty from the signal corps in Florida. In the front door and out of the back of 019 the battery passed inalphabetical line in rehearsal of the manner in which the gang plankof the ship was to be trod. Departure instruction likewise includedhikes to the electric rail siding to practice boarding the cars withequipment. The last few days in camp were marked by daily medical inspections, also daily inspections of equipment. Everybody had to drag all theirequipment outside for inspection. The men were fully and newlyequipped with clothing and supplies upon leaving. Two new wooluniforms, two pairs of field shoes, new underwear, socks, shirts, towels, toilet articles, and a score of other soldier necessities, were issued before leaving. All old clothing and equipment was turnedin. Each man was allotted a barrack-bag as cargo. The barrack-bag was madeof heavy blue denim with about a seventy-five pound capacity, which weight was cited as the limit a soldier could obtain storage forin the ship's baggage compartments. Although seventy-five pounds was the order, all the boys resorted tosome fine packing. There were not many under the limit. Most of theboys had their knitted garments in the bag, also a plentiful supply ofsoap, because rumor had struck the outfit that soap was a scarcearticle in France. Milk chocolate and smokes were also well stockedin. Besides the barrack-bag each soldier was provided with a haversack andpack-carrier, in which were carried--on the back--two O.  D. Blankets, toilet articles, extra socks, clothing, and the various articles thatwould be needed on the voyage across. Saturday, July 13th, 1918, was the memorable day of departure fromCamp Meade. Battery D furnished the last guard detail of the regimentat Meade. The 13th, as luck would have it, dawned in a heavy shower ofrain. Reveille sounded at 5:15 a. M. , after which, those who had notdone so the night previous, hiked out in the rain and emptied thestraw from their bed-ticks; completed the packing of their bags andpacks and loaded the bags on trucks while the rain came down intorrents. As was usually the case in army routine, early reveille did not vouchfor an early departure from camp. Detail aplenty was in store for theboys all day. The last meal was enjoyed in 019 mess-hall at 5 p. M. , --thenstarted a thorough policing up of barracks. Sweeping squads were sentover the ground a dozen times and finally the boys assembled outsideon the battery assembling grounds, at 7:30 p. M. , with packs ready andeverything set to begin the march to entrain. During the hours of waiting that followed the boys indulged in a fewsign painting decorations. Among the numerous signs tacked to 019were: "For Sail. Apply Abroad. " "For Rent, for a large family; only scrappers need apply. Btry D, 311th F.  A. " "Von Hindenberg dropped dead. We're coming. " It was a grand sight to see the regiment depart at 8:45 p. M. The bandwas playing; colors were flying at the head of the column--everybodywas in high spirits. But there were no civilians to enjoy thespectacle. It was night and but few knew of the departure. The rainhad ceased and twilight was deepening into darkness as the regiment, excepting Battery A, which was left in camp for police detail, tofollow a few days later, started on the hike; back overpractically the same route the soldiers were marched from Disney to019 when they first arrived in camp. This time they were leaving 019;marching for the last time with Battery D through the reservation ofCamp Meade; marching to the railroad yards at Disney where trains werebeing made up to convey the regiment to a point of embarkation. Butfew knew whether it was to be Philadelphia, New York, or Hoboken. Themen were leaving home and home-land and departing for a land of whichthey knew nought. What the ocean and Germany's program of relentlesssubmarine warfare had in store for them, no one knew. All hearts werestrong in the faith and all stout hearts were ready to do and to dare;content in the knowledge that they were doing their duty to their homeand their country. CHAPTER X. ABOARD THE S.  S. MORVADA. Land appeared in rugged outline along the horizon as the SteamshipMorvada swept the waves when dusk was falling on the Tuesday eveningof July 16th, 1918. It was a beautiful mid-summer's night and the boysof Battery D, in common with the members of the 311th regiment, stoodat the deck railings of the S.  S. Morvada and watched the outline ofshore disappear under cover of darkness. The ship had been sailingsince 11:30 a. M. , Sunday, July 14th, at which time the Morvada hadlifted anchor and slowly pushed its nose into the Delaware River;leaving behind the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad docks at PortRichmond, Philadelphia, Penna. , the last link that held them to theirnative shores. Surmises and guesses were rife as the ship rolled on in the darkness, leaving the boys either arguing as to the destination or else seekingtheir "bunk" down in the "hatch" and rolling in for the night. It was generally agreed that the course thus far was along the coast. It was apparent that the ship was skirting coastline, because convoyprotection had been given by sea-planes flying out from the navalcoast stations, accompanying the transport for a distance, thendisappearing landward. The boys on the transport spent many an idlehour watching the aviators circle the ship time and time again, oftencoming within voice range of the transport's passengers. It was also settled that the course had been Northeast, but no one wasquite certain as to location. The morning of July 17th found the Morvada approaching land. Alighthouse appeared in the dim distance, then, as the hours passed andthe ship sped on, the coast became visible and more visible, disclosing rugged country, rising high from out of the water's edge. The country, moreover, appeared waste and devastated; the land beingcovered with wrecked buildings that showed signs of explosive force. Location finally became apparent as harbor scenes presented an uniquepicturesqueness of territory. The S.  S. Morvada was in Halifax harbor, Nova Scotia, and the surrounding territory was the scene of the famousT.  N.  T. Explosion. It was 11 o'clock on the morning of July 17th thatthe ship cast anchor in Halifax harbor and word was passed that all onboard could remove life preservers and breathe a sigh of relief. To be suddenly found in Canadian environment furnished a newthrill for the soldiers. The Saturday night previous the same soldierswere making the trip from Camp Meade to port of embarkation. Everybody was expecting a lay over in an embarkation camp beforeembarking, therefore the surprise was the greater when the train thatleft Camp Meade at midnight on the evening of July 13th, deposited itscargo of soldiers on the pier at Port Richmond within a short distanceof the ship that was waiting for its cargo of human freight beforepulling anchor for the first lap of the France-bound journey. Orders to detrain were given at 8:29 a. M. Tired and hungry thesoldiers were greeted on the pier by a large delegation of Red Crossworkers who had steaming hot coffee, delicious buns, cigarettes andcandy to distribute to the regiment as a farewell tribute and morningappetizer. Postal cards were also distributed for the soldiers toaddress to their home-folks. The messages were farewell messages andwere held over at Washington. D.  C. , until word was received that theMorvada had landed safely overseas. At 8 a. M. The repeat-your-last-name-first-and-your-first-name-lastmarch up the gang-plank started. Each man got a blue card with asection and berth number on; also a meal ticket appended, after whichit was a scramble to find your right place in the hatch. At 11:30 o'clock anchor was lifted; the little river tug boat nosedthe steamship about; then, with colors flying, the band playing, theMorvada steamed down the Delaware; passing Hog Island in a midway ofships from which words of farewell and waves of good-bye wafted acrossto the Morvada. The sky-line of Brotherly Love, guarded over byWilliam Penn on City Hall, gradually faded from view and the Sundayafternoon wore on, as the boys spent most of their first day aboard atransport on deck, watching the waves and admiring the beauties ofnature, revealed in all splendor as the ever-fading shore line, viewedfrom the promenade deck, lost itself into the mist-like horizon of skyand water, richly enhanced by the brilliancy of a superb sunset. The S.  S. Morvada skirted the shore for some time and for the firstfew hours all was calm on deck. By night, however, sea-sickness beganto manifest itself and there was considerable coughing up over therail. Besides watching the waves and the various-sized and colored fishes ofthe deep make occasional bounds over the crest of the foam, thesoldiers spent their time trying to get something to eat, which was abig job in itself. The Morvada was an English boat, of small type, that was built in 1914to ply between England and India, carrying war materials. The voyageof the 311th was the second time the Morvada was used as a transport. Except for officer personnel the ship was manned by a crew of EastIndians, whose main article of wearing apparel was a towel and whosemain occupation was scrubbing and flushing the decks with a hose, justabout the time mess call found the soldiers looking for a nice spot tosettle down with mess-kit and eating-irons. Up forward were batteriesB, D, E, and F, and the Supply Company, and aft were HeadquartersCompany, Battery C, and the Medical Detachment. Each end of the shiphad its galley along which the mess lines formed three times a day. The khaki-clad soldiers could not get used to the English system offood rationing with the result that food riots almost occurred untilthe officers of the regiment intervened and secured an improvement inthe mess system. The first night in Halifax harbor was a pleasant relief from thestrain of suspense that attended the journey to Canadian waters. Decklights were lighted for the first time and vied for brilliancy in thenight with the other ocean-going craft assembled in the harbor. TheMorvada did not dock, but remained anchored in the harbor, from wherethe soldiers on board could view the city and port of entry that wasthe capital of the Province of Nova Scotia. To the Southeast the city of Halifax, situated on a fortified hill, towering 225 feet from the waters of the harbor, showed its originalbuildings built of wood, plastered or stuccoed; and dotted with finebuildings of stone and brick of later day creation. When the soldiers on board the Morvada arose on the morning of July18th the Halifax harbor was dotted with several more transports thathad arrived during the night. The day was spent in semaphoring to thevarious transports and learning what troops each quartered. Officialorders, however, put a stop to this form of pastime and discussion wasshifted to the whys and wherefores of the various camouflage designsthe troop ships sported. During the stay at Halifax the first taste of mail censorship wasdoled out. Letters were written in abundance, which were treatedrather roughly by two-edged scissors before the mail was conveyed toHalifax to be sent to Washington, D.  C. , to await release uponnotification that the Morvada had arrived safely overseas. Many ofthese first letters are still held as priceless mementos by thehome-folks. Each morning of the succeeding days that the Morvada was anchored inHalifax harbor brought several new ships to cluster about in the wideexpanse of water. A sufficient number for convoy across the Atlanticwas gradually assembling, each ship appearing in a different regaliaof protective coloration that made the harbor sight vastlyspectacular. Newspapers from the Canadian shore were brought on board each day. OnJuly 19th the papers conveyed the information that the United StatesCruiser, San Diego, was sunk that day ten miles off Fire Island byrunning on an anchored mine placed there by German U-boats. TheMorvada had traversed the same course several days previous. To read of such occurrence, in such environment was to produce silentthought. To be in the harbor of Halifax, within shadow of McNalisIsland that rested on the waves at the mouth of the harbor, was to bein the same environment as the confederate cruiser, "Tallahassee, "which slipped by night through the Eastern passage formed by McNalisIsland, and escaped the Northern vessels that were watching off thewestern entrance formed by the island. The time was drawing near when the Morvada was destined to creepstealthily through the night, to cross the 3, 000 miles of submarineinfested Atlantic. CHAPTER XI. DODGING SUBMARINES. Under serene skies on the morning of July 20th, seventeen ships, assembled in Halifax harbor, made final preparations to steam forth tothe highways of the broad Atlantic. At 9:30 o'clock that morning the convoy maneuvered into battleformation with a U.  S. Cruiser leading the convoy while four small subchasers circled about in high speed and an army dirigible flewoverhead. Each ship was directed in a zig zag course, a new angle ofthe zig zag being pointed every few minutes, a course of propellationthat continued the entire route of the water way. Good-byes were waved from ships stationed along the several miles ofwater course that marked the harbor's length, until the open Atlanticwas reached, then the sub chasers and the dirigible turned about, leaving the seventeen transports and supply ships under the wing ofthe battle cruiser that proceeded to pick out the course across theocean, to where bound no one on board, save the captain of the ship, knew. Clad in their life preservers the soldiers idled about the decks asthe convoy sped on. It was a source of delight to stand at the deckrail and watch the waves dash against the steel clad sides of theship. On several occasions when the waves rolled high, many on boardexperienced the sensation of a sea bath, the stiff sea breeze carryingthe seething foam high over the rail on to the deck. To see the waves roll high created the impression of mightiness ofcreation; the impression of mountains rising magic like at the side ofthe vessel. Suddenly the ship rises to the crest of the wave and therecedence leaves one looking down into what appears like a deepcavern. When the sun was rising in the direction one was thrilled by thebeauties of the rainbow observed in the clearness of the waves, when, at the height of dashing resplendence the surging sprays descend infountain semblance, drinking in, as it were, the very beauty of God'shandiwork. The same position on deck the boys found none the less attractive whenthe shades of night had fallen. On one of the first nights out theship passed through an atmosphere of dense fog, suddenly to emergeinto elements of star lit splendor, the moon, in full radiance, casting a silvery luminous path on the sparkling waves. It was aphenomena worthy of the tallest submarine risks to witness. The fullmoon and the very repleteness of things aesthetic gave opportunity forthose who were able to portray an attitude of indifference, to tellgravely how the radiance of the night fully exposed the convoy to theU-boats that were lurking in every wave. Established routine of transport duties and formations was continuedduring the ocean voyage. Ship-abandon and fire drills were a dailyfeature of life aboard. Each outfit had a specific place to congregatewhen the signal for ship-abandon drill was sounded. All that wasnecessary was to stand at the appointed place while the coolies, comprising the crew, scampered to the life-boats and made miniatureattempts at hacking the ropes and dropping to the waves. The promenade deck, both port and starboard sides, was in use each dayaccommodating group after group for half-hour periods of physicalexercise. The tossing of the vessel lent itself in rhythm to theenjoyment of the calisthenics, or else it was physical exercise enoughin trying to maintain an equilibrium while the arms and legs wereraised alternately in eight counts. Guard duty was firmly established on board. A guard roster numberedmore men than a guard detail at Camp Meade ever required. Thesignificance of the precise guard forms another of the mysteries ofBattery D. No one went A.  W.  O.  L. While enroute and when it came tochallenging after taps, a sentry in most cases could not be greeted bythe customary answer, "a friend, " although the challenged party was afriend indeed, also a friend in need. How could he answer when he hadhis hand over his mouth and his primary object was to get to the railquick. After several days out, however, a majority of the boys "gottheir sea legs, " as evinced by the mess line three times daily. A schedule of formations, similar to Camp Meade routine, waspromulgated on board. Reveille was set for 7 o'clock each morning. When the time came to assemble on deck the space was so small and thecrowd was so large that many a recruit slept-in until the last messline was treading the beat. Reform measures were instituted and extraduty lists published, offenders being added to the regular detailsthat were selected to daily wash up the deck and clean up the hatch. A permanent submarine guard was detailed, the members of this detaillanding state rooms for the journey; living next door to the officers. During the trip this guard sighted several score of "subs" butgenerally their "object port-bow" proved to be a keg that hadbecome prohibition and therefore found itself abandoned in mid-ocean. Outside of bunk inspection, medical inspection, feet inspection, several kinds of arm inspection, with details, drill formations andexercise periods, the life of the American soldier aboard a transportwas an idle one. The ship's canteen did a big business during officehours. A world's series bleacher crowd had nothing on the canteen lineof the Morvada. A place in the line commanded a high premium, whichled to speculation in canteen supplies. The afternoon of July 21st was attendant by a high wind, making itvery cool on deck, while the wind lashed the waves with great fury. The cold wind blew all day July 22nd, the day when the first wirelessreports were posted on board, telling of the Germans being driven overthe Marne and thousands of prisoners captured. The sea became calm on Tuesday, July 23rd, the gale having died down. The ship was traveling East and each morning watches had to bereadjusted to correspond to the change in longitude. At 3 a. M. On the third morning out a great commotion was occasionedon board. Everybody was awakened by a loud rumbling. A majoritythought a submarine had been encountered. Several dashed up the stepsof the hatchway to be ready for action. Someone shouted, "Don't getexcited, but make room for me to get out first. " Later it wasascertained that the noise was caused by the ships' anchor slippingseveral rods of anchor chain. The first taste of real excitement was occasioned at 1 o'clock on theafternoon of July 25th when a strange craft was sighted on the distanthorizon. The cruiser of the convoy was all action immediately. Warningflashed to all the convoy party and a wild series of zigzagging ensuedwhile the cruiser chased pell-mell in the direction of the sightedcraft. A shot was fired from the cruiser in the dash, but only amountain of water was blasted by the discharge. The convoy continued Eastward while the cruiser investigated. Finallythe cruiser returned to the convoy and reported everything O.  K. Thetroops never learned the official identity of the strange vessel thatsent the first sub-chasers up the vertebrae of many. Word was passed about on Saturday, July 27th, that the convoy wasapproaching the imaginary line in the ocean that Germany hadestablished as the dead-line, past which her U-boats were operating inunrestricted warfare. The approach of the danger zone was the signalfor all on board to remove no article of clothing while asleep atnight and to carry a canteen of fresh water strapped to the belt atall times. In this manner everybody was prepared to take to the wavesat a minute's sub-warning. As the journey continued the officers of Battery D instituted a seriesof battery lectures, also took up plans for the organization of apermanent battery commander's detail. Sunday, July 28th, found the sea calm in the morning, but a stronggale set in at noon, followed by a heavy rain during the afternoon. Adense fog enveloped the convoy. Fog horns came into play and it was amiserable night aboard for everybody. Standing at the deck rail onecould not pierce the fog, although it was known that within a shortradius all the other ships of the convoy were groping their waythrough the darkness; each creeping as a black monster through thegloomy night, depending upon the fog-horn to keep aloof from theirsister convoy ships; a sense of loneliness enshrouded the scene. Itwas a wild night for the timid with sub-scares, especially when theinformation leaked out that the sub-chasers which were scheduled tomeet the convoy and escort it through the danger zone, were overdueand still missing. Fog still lay close to the water on the morning of Monday, July 29th, as eager watch was kept for the new convoy. The transports had reachedthe danger line and the destroyers were not in sight. Finally at 10 a. M. On the morning of the 29th, the first of thesub-chasers was sighted. It was not long before others appeared, bobbing up and down. The waves dashed high about the light craft andat times seemed to submerge the shells as they bore down upon thegroups of transports. Eight sub-chasers appeared on the scene. A greatshout went up from the transports as the convoy was sighted. Theycircled the transports and the last and most dangerous lap of thejourney was started. Thoughts strange and varied filled the minds of the majority aboard asthey tossed in their bunks on the night of July 29th. Realization oflocation in the danger zone was keen. Those who were at easesufficiently to sleep were annoyed and disturbed by the noises ofwhistles and signal horns as the ships and the convoy kept ever alertfor submarines. On the morning of July 30th the eight sub-chasers encircled the convoyparty in closer proximity. The dash through the danger zone continuedunmolested until 3 o'clock in the afternoon when the first realperiscope was discovered by the look-outs. The cruiser at the head of the convoy lurched forth; fired a shot andtossed up the waves in answer. The resonance against the steel sidesof the transport rang out clear, bringing hundreds scampering out ofthe hatches and state rooms of the ship, on to the decks, to peer outover the rail and watch in awe the great drama that was being enactedin serious reality upon the waves of the ocean. The sun was shining brightly. Every transport in the party struck outat full speed, while the zigzagging was increased in comparison. Eightsub-chasers cut the waves with frantic speed. The circle-convoyformation was abandoned. The destroyers cut short to make for thescene of action, which held forth and was witnessed to good advantagefrom the starboard side of the Morvada. As the transports fled under full steam the cruiser and sub-chaserssnorted and crashed and roared in the vicinity the periscopes had beendiscovered. Depth-bombs came into play. Those missiles of destructionwere hurled from the destroyers as they combed the waves for miles andmiles around the spot where danger threatened. Each discharge ofdepth-bomb raised an avalanche of water; the deadly bombs blasting thedepths for great distances, while the reverberation shook thetransports, creating the impression that the transport was in directcontact with each explosion. For fully an hour the detonations continued as the depth-bombs weredischarged. Finally the destroyers swept back and the convoy formationwas resumed. The news was spread that the final result of the battlewas success, as vouched for by films of oil the destroyers saw appearon the water's surface. General report had it that five submarinescomposed the attacking party and that wreckage and oil coming to thesurface gave evidence of two having been destroyed. The convoy continued on its journey. Sailing orders were executed indetail. It was 4 o'clock, one hour after the sub-battle, that theconvoy parted, the various ships bound for different ports ofdebarkation, which were soon to loom in sight. At 6 p. M. That same day the soldiers on board the Morvada sightedland. Throughout the night the ships sped on but land was dimlydiscernible, the rugged outline appearing through the shadows of thenight, while the appearance of fishing smacks, which the transportpassed without fear or sign, created the impression that friendlyshores were near. Unable to ply their nets at their life's occupation as fishermenthe sturdy shoresmen of Brittany's coast gave of their time and theirsmacks to the perilous task of combing adjacent water for mines andexplosive obstacles. It was these the Morvada passed out in the darkness of night, on theeve before landing and setting foot on foreign soil. The Morvada crepton, the contrasting stillness of the waves showing that channel watershad been reached. But few on board knew, or could rightly guess whatshore was to greet their eyes on the dawn of the morrow. CHAPTER XII. A ROYAL WELSH RECEPTION. A surprise reception was in store for the soldiers aboard the S.  S. Morvada when it came to debarking on foreign soil. As the ship pliedthe channel waters on the night of July 30th, 1918, but few on boardknew what port was its destination; but not so with the people of theBritish Isles. They knew the plans for the arrival of the Americanarmy transports. On July 31st, the people of Barry and Cardiff, incommon with Newport, in the province of South Wales, did honor to theAmerican troops. Barry, the urban district and seaport of Glamorganshire, Wales, on theBristol channel, was the foreign shore that greeted the troops on theMorvada early in the morning of July 31st. It was perfect weather for such a visit, the first ever paid to Barryby a large body of American troops, and Barry's reception waswhole-hearted. The citizens turned out in great force. Enthusiasm wasmanifest on every side, and this, despite the fact that, owing to theunavoidable delay in the ship's arrival, the people had to waitseveral hours while the Morvada rested at anchor in the harbor untildocking could be accomplished at 9 a. M. While preparations to dock were in progress crowds lingered on thepiers. The soldiers amused themselves by tossing one-cent pieces tothe Welsh children. Immediately a demand for American cigarettes andchewing gum arose among the older Welshmen. The crowds and the town itself were in holiday attire. The vessels indock were gay with bunting. Flags were displayed from shop-windows, the municipal offices and the fire-brigade station, while from thesummit of the Barry Railway Company's offices "Old Glory" was flyingto the breeze. As the Morvada docked and the command was given for the troops todebark, loud welcome was sounded by sonorous "hooters, " screamingsirens and shrill ship and loco whistles. At 10 o'clock the soldiers were assembled on terra firma once more. Parade formation was ordered in answer to the glad welcome plans ofthe inhabitants. Headed by the regimental band the 311th Artillery skirted the banks ofa small brook named Barri, whose waters encircled an island--theisland which in the 7th century is supposed to have contained the cellof the Welsh saint, named Barri, from which the name of the island andthe river is derived. British troops, with rifles at present arms and bayonets glistening inthe sun, formed a guard of honor that lined both sides of the streetsof Barry, through which the American troops passed in royal welcome. The march proceeded until King's square was reached, where officialceremony of welcome to the town was enacted. Here the officers and men formed in the large public square in frontof the municipal offices, where Councillor George Wareham, J.  P. , aschairman of the district council, extended to the Americans a heartywelcome. Lieut. -Col. Bradbridge, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, addressing Col. C.  G. Mortimer, in command of the 311th, said he had been commanded byHis Majesty, the King, to welcome all to the shores of Great Britain. Each soldier was then presented with a copy of an autographed letterfrom King George V. , bidding God-speed and every success. The letterwas as follows: _Windsor Castle. Soldiers of the United States--The people of the British Isles welcome you on your way to take your stand beside the armies of many nations now fighting in the Old World the great battle for human freedom. The Allies will gain new heart and spirit in your company. I wish that I could shake the hand of each one of you, and bid you God-speed on your mission. _ GEORGE R.  I. Col. Mortimer expressed his appreciation of the very hearty welcomehis men had received. "We are here, " he said, "for one purpose, andyou all know what that is. We are young at the business, but if spiritcounts for anything, it will surely win out. We have been lookingforward to this for some little time, and I can assure you we will doour part. " Then the band struck up the National anthem of America and this wasfollowed by "God Save the King, " and the soldiers moved on amid thecheers of the people. The last mess on the Morvada was partaken of at the conclusion of theparade. At 2 o'clock that afternoon all packs were removed fromthe boat, the troops assembled in a large warehouse on the pier;British Red Cross workers distributed refreshments while trains werebeing made up to convey the soldiers to their first foreign trainingcenter. A combination of first, second, and third-class coaches of thecompartment type characteristic of the English rail system made up thesection of train that was assigned to Battery D. The coaches andBritish locomotives were the source of considerable interest to thesoldiers. Each compartment accommodated eight men, which allowed adivision of squads being made for the journey. At 4:30 o'clock the wheels began to grind the rails and the first rideon foreign soil was started. Fast-fleeting stretches of fertile farm land and extensive pasturefield, rich in verdure, with cattle grazing drowsily at the close ofday, presented the picture of a peaceful pastoral life of Britishsubjects as the train continued to add up mileage. Station afterstation was passed without stop by the American troop special. BatteryD displayed an American flag from its section and the inhabitants inthe vicinity of the railroad station as the special passed throughtheir town or hamlet, could not mistake the identity of the Americans. From Barry the route stretched to Penarth and Cardiff; passed throughNewport, Christ Church, and Major, thence across the funnel waters ofthe Bristol channel to the thriving city of Bristol; into the ruraldistricts of Wiltshire; passing Bath, Trowbridge, and Warminster. Rations of hard bread, corned-beef, corned-beef hash, canned tomatoes, and jam, had been distributed to the squads before leaving theMorvada. When the troop special was nearing Salisbury, evening waswell advanced and the appetites of the soldiers were being graduallyappeased enroute, stop was made at Wilton, where everybody on boardtook advantage of permission to get off at the station and enjoy a cupof hot coffee that a contingent of British Red Cross workers handedout. The journey was resumed after a twenty-minute lay-over. The South ofEngland was penetrated farther as the boys tried to figure out whetherthey would remain on British territory long, or whether France was tobe the first active training center. [Illustration: 3rd CLASS FRENCH COMPARTMENT COACH] [Illustration: SIDE-DOOR PULLMAN SPECIALTRAVEL A LA MODE IN FRANCE] [Illustration: INTERIOR FRENCH BOX CARBATTERY D ENROUTE] [Illustration: A REAL AMERICAN SPECIALNEW YORK TO CAMP DIX] CHAPTER XIII. A BRITISH REST CAMP. At 9 p. M. , it was yet daylight. The boys were weary and tired as thetroop train on the London and Southwestern railway pulled into astation, the sign-boards of which gave the name as Romsey. Orders todetrain were passed along. All soldiers and packs were soon off the train; then, line-up as perusual, and march, first under a stone railroad bridge, through thetown, soon to strike a highway leading out of the town. The pack on the back got heavier every minute, but the marchcontinued; one mile, two miles, then along the stretch of the thirdthere appeared scenes of buildings and tents. Post-signs glared theinformation that Camp Woodley had been reached. There appeared to bemany parts to the camp. Battery D did not stop at the first, nor thesecond, but halt was made at what was designated as C Camp. It was a welcome order that allowed the troops to fall-out along theroadside as official parlance was started with the powers that ruledthe destinies of C Camp. The vicinity was closely guarded by AmericanM.  P. 's. , who proceeded to communicate stories, savoring the good, bad, and indifferent prospects of the abode that was to shelter the311th for one night at least. "It's a rest camp", they said. The wordssounded peaceful to the tired troops assembled. It required only oneday, however, to find out that the only part of a soldier that gotrest at a "rest-camp" was the stomach. The hour was almost 10:30 when it was finally decided what areaBattery D was to occupy for the night. C Camp was a tented camp, thetents being spacious enough to comfortably house about four army cotsfor a healthy soldier to rest his weary bones on. The cots, however, were missing. Battery D was marched down the main road of the selectedarea. Halt was made at the first tent. Twenty-six men were orderedinside. The remainder continued to the next tent in order wheretwenty-six more were registered for the night; and so on down theroster, until Battery D was under canvass. The battery cooks and details were put to work immediately to preparesomething to eat, but a majority of the soldiers either got tiredwaiting or else had such a hard job finding what was prepared thatthey wended their way through the tented city and after considerablewandering found the tent wherein they were to be one of the twenty-sixregistered for the night. Twenty-six men and twenty-six packs in one tent. Crowding was morethan a necessity; it was a torture, as was soon evinced when twenty-sixmen stretched themselves out on the board floor of the tent for theseeming purpose of sleeping. Extra blankets had been drawn from thequartermaster, which, combined with the blankets the soldier carriedin his pack, furnished mattress and coverings for the sweet but hardrepose. No blue-print diagram was furnished as to how the sleepingspace was to be allotted in twenty-six portions; with the result thatone fellow was awakened out of a sweet dream of eating pie and cake, to find his buddy's feet pushing him in the face. Reveille sounded at C Camp Woodley at 7:20 o'clock on the morning ofAugust 1st, when Battery D received its first taste of British mess. Details of varied description were furnished from the battery roster, while the battery spent most of the first day in camp trying to figureout the English system of mess. The outfit was assigned places attables, by squads, in mess-tents. Two from each squad were delegated acommittee to go to the kitchen and bring on the chow. For breakfast the committee brought back an iron-bound kettle ofoatmeal; another kettle of prunes and a quantity of bread. The systemthen was one of "help yourself and pass it on, " which was all rightfor the fellow at the head of the table, but the fellows on theopposite end had to do the figuring. The same procedure was followed at noon when slum was served. Nightmess in England invariably was cheese and tea and jam, which wasalways good as far as it went. The entire 311th regiment was servedfrom one kitchen. It was good fortune that the Americans hadindividual mess kits with them and that there occurred no sanitaryinspections of said eating utensils while in C Camp where fifteenhundred mess kits were washed in a two by four bucket. During the first day in an English camp many of the soldiers slippedpast the M.  P. 's and made their way to the town; a quaint market townand municipal borough, numbering almost 4, 000 inhabitants, in the NewForest Parliamentary division of Hampshire. As far as sight seeing, the only thing of interest in the town was an old abbey. Cafes werenumerous, while English ale signs were more numerous. An American Y.  M.  C.  A. Was housed under canvas at Camp Woodley. Theworkers in charge prepared a royal entertainment, while the regimentalband gave a concert the second night of the soldiers' stay incamp. Members of a Romsey dramatic club furnished the entertainment. Towards the close the band struck up, "The Star Spangled Banner, "then, "God Save the King. " The Romsey entertainers started to singtheir National Anthem, while the Americans joined in with, "My Country'Tis of Thee. " All that was needed to complete the effect of the Babelscene was John J. Jlosky and Otto Skirkie to sing, "Down Where theGreen River Flows. " Reveille for Friday, August 2nd, had been set for 7:30 a. M. All headswere awakened by the bugle at 6:45 o'clock that morning. No one inBattery D stirred. The impression was that the call was for anotheroutfit. Six fifty-five found First Sergeant James J. Farrell goingfrom tent to tent to find out the cause of the silence. Then there wasgreat hustling to get out in line and many a woolen puttee was missingthat morning. The day was destined to be a rough one. It was raining at reveillecall and still raining when call was sounded at 9:30 o'clock for ahike. The hike was started and continued for three miles, so did therain. The longer the soldiers walked the faster it rained. The scenerywas beautiful through the stretch of pleasantly situated country inthe rich valley of the Test. Picturesque English homesteads, set amidhedges and roses, with moss-overgrown thatched roofs, dotted thewayside. At a cross-roads the battery halted for rest. Along the roadcame a baker's wagon. There was a raid on its gingerbread cookies. Thebakerman reaped a harvest of good American quarters for every threecookies he handed out. Drenched through slicker, et al. The soldiers retraced their step toCamp Woodley, the beauties of the flowery countryside being lost to amajority by the far-soaking rain. When Lieut. Hugh Clarke dismissedthe watery battery admonition was added for everybody to change to dryclothing. But, alas, the advice was far better than expedient. Theonly clothes the soldiers possessed at the time were wet on theirbacks. Their extra uniform and clothing was in their barrack-bags, which had not been seen since leaving Camp Meade. No fire wasavailable. The only open course was to let the clothes dry on theback. The boys of Battery D spent a very lonely afternoon, sitting inthe tents, with wet clothes. And, it continued raining on the outside. When the battery drew individual rations, consisting of one can ofcorned-beef; a hunk of cheese; a box of hard bread and a can of jam, at 9:30 o'clock, Saturday morning, August 3rd, the sun was shiningand the day was waxing warm. Under full pack the command started forthe seaport of Southampton. Romsey is seven miles Northwest of Southampton by the London andSouthwest railway, but the 311th did not take the L.  & S.  W. Thehob-nail limited was the official troop train and the route coverednine miles by winding road. It was on this hike that "Corona" became lost. David B. Koenig, thebattery clerk, was the chaperon of "Corona. " But he could not carryher all the way, so the boys took turns at carrying the preciousthing. During one of the rest-halts, however, some one left poorlittle "Corona" lay by the roadside. When her disappearance wasdiscovered it was necessary for Lieut. Clarke to hike back severalmiles and find the lost. "Corona" was the battery typewriter. Southampton was reached at 12:30 o'clock. Stop was made at the Britishrest camp at the Commons where refreshments, in addition to the cheeseand jam rations, were secured at the British Y.  M.  C.  A. Canteen. At 2p. M. That day it started to rain and at 2:15 the regiment resumed itsmarch and reached the docks at 3:15 o'clock. It was a regiment of tired soldiers who sat on their packs in the bigwarehouse pier at Southampton waiting for word to go up the gang-plankof the vessel that was to take them across the English Channel. "The King Edward" was the name of the channel-going vessel that drewalongside the pier late in the afternoon. It was a cute-looking boat, just big enough to transport Battery D across the channel in comfort. At 6:30 p. M. , Battery D and 1200 other members of the 311th wereloaded on the King Edward. Everybody had a pleasant time. No spacewent to waste, whatever. Some tried to sleep during the long nightthat ensued while standing against a post and others tried to strapthemselves to the ceiling with their cartridge belts. In general thescene was like unto a large meat-cooler in a butcher shop, with theexception that the ship furnished life-preservers instead ofmeat-hooks and the temperature was the extreme of zero. Convoyed by several destroyers with piercing search lights, whichscanned the same waters that held the dead of the HospitalshipWalrilda, which was torpedoed in the English Channel while conveyingwounded back to England, the King Edward started on its dash acrossthe channel at 8:30 p. M. , on the night of the day that the Walrildamet its fate. The troops huddled together in the small hatches of the KingEdward did not have much thought where they were or whither bound. They did not recall at the time that they were passing the Isle ofWight and the spot in the English Channel that witnessed the defeat ofthe Armada in the same month, back in the year 1588. Sufficient unto the night was the misery thereof. Sea sickness cameover quite a few, which was duly abetted by the stifling air. Thosenear the hatch-ways were fortunate in getting to the deck rails whentheir inner recesses were most severely tempest-tossed. Those who werehemmed in on all sides by human forms, who lay stretched on thestairs, in hallways, benches and wherever there was an inch of space, had a difficult time when they attempted to find a passage way throughthe closely matted carpet of humanity. Col. C.  G. Mortimer, the regimental commander, came down from hisstation on the deck and found it well-nigh impossible to get throughthe corridor of the forward saloon. Through the hours of the long night the King Edward was convoyedacross the channel at a speed nearing 25 knots an hour. Early morningof Sunday, August 4th, drew the King Edward near the shores ofNorthern France. At 2 p. M. The ship approached a harbor, but it wasnot until daylight that those on board could see a sign on a warehouseof a pier, bearing the name Cherbourg. CHAPTER XIV. SO THIS IS FRANCE! "So this is France!" For the first time the boys of Battery D repeated this phrase in allits reality as they stood upon elevated ground in the vicinity of theBritish Rest Camp at Cherbourg and viewed the vista of harbor, fourmiles distant, where, from the gang-plank of the King Edward they setfoot on French soil on Sunday morning, August 4th, at 8 o'clock. The panorama presented the naval and commercial harbors, from whichCherbourg, the seaport of Northwestern France, derives its chiefimportance. The eye can see the three main basins, cut out of therock, with an area of fifty-five acres, which forms the naval harborand to which are connected dry-docks; the yards where the largestships in the French navy are constructed; magazines and the variousworkshops required for an arsenal of the French navy. A glance about reveals surrounding hills, in which batteries arelocated in fortification of the works and the town. A second glance toward the harbor shows a large naval hospital closeto the water's-edge, at the mouth of the Divette, on a small bay atthe apex of the indentation formed by the Northern shore of thePeninsula of Cotentin. There is also at the mouth of Divette, thecommercial harbor, connecting with the sea by a channel. This harborconsists of two parts, an outer harbor and an inner basin. Outsidethese harbors is the triangular bay, which forms the road-stead ofCherbourg. The bay is admirably sheltered by the land on three sides, while onthe North it is sheltered by a large breakwater, which is protectedand leaves passage for vessels. The passages are guarded by fortsplaced on islands intervening between the breakwater and the mainland, and themselves united to the mainland by breakwaters. Glimpses of the town of Cherbourg which the boys received as theyhiked the four miles from the docks to the rest camp, through narrowand crooked streets, revealed no buildings of special interest, apartfrom the church of La Trinite dating from the 15th century; a statueof the painter J.  F. Millet, born near Cherbourg, stands in the publicgardens and there is an equestrian statue of Napoleon I in the squarenamed after him. After reaching the rest camp the soldiers wereunable to get down to the town again, although they had been told thatthe Hotel de Ville housed a rich collection of paintings. It was at 10 a. M. When the regiment arrived at the British Rest Campat Cherbourg. Halt was made on a large parade ground in front of aY.  M.  C.  A. Hut. The boys stretched themselves on the ground whilesearch was instituted for the area the outfit was to occupy at itssecond rest camp. Rest had just been commanded a few minutes when the command to"fall-in" was sounded. Everybody hustled to their feet, shouldered theheavy pack and awaited the next order. "About-Face" was ordered. And the regiment obeyed. "Rest" was next. This was the first time in the history of the battery that it wasnecessary to shoulder packs to execute an about-face. The camp consisted of dome-shaped, sheet-iron barracks and tentedareas. After an hour's wait Battery D was assigned to the 13th row ofSection C of the tented area. Tents were pyramid in shape. Fourteenmen were crowded into each tent that was originally intended foreight. By laying in wheel formation, with fourteen pairs of feet meeting atthe center pole, the boys rested themselves on the board floors of thetents that night. There was no room for packcarriers and otherparaphanelia in the tents. Most of the soldiers deposited their excessluggage on the outside. About midnight it started to rain. There was ascurry to get the equipment in out of the rain, which also disturbedthe sweet slumbers as water trickled in under the canvass or else camethrough leaks in the roof. Reveille sounded at 5:30 the next morning. Orders were given for packsto be rolled preparatory to moving. A move was made from Section C torow 19 of D Section of the same tented area. The remainder of themorning was set apart for Battery D to take a bath. The soldiers' bathhad been a negligible quantity since leaving Camp Meade, with theexception of some few who attempted to work up a lather with saltwater on the Morvada. To the boys, therefore, the prospect of a goodbath was hailed with delight. No dressing room was attached to the bathhouse that was situated atone end of the Cherbourg rest camp. Therefore the boys had to makeready for the bath in their tents. With slickers and shoes on thebattery lined up and marched to the bathhouse, while the rain camedown and the wind was wont to play with the flaps of the raincoats, asa battery of bare-legs was exposed to the elements. Arrived at the bathhouse, it was discovered that the showers wouldaccommodate eight at one time. The first squad in line went into thewater sanctum, while everybody else waited their turn on the outside. The showers consisted of three half-inch pipes suspended from theceiling. There were three lengths of pipe, each length beingperforated at two places to emit the shower of water. The perforationscomprised about four holes, each hole about one-sixteenth of an inchin diameter. The first eight who entered the bathhouse were eager to get under theshowers and consequently did not glance about to inspect the equipmentof the room. The eight soldiers braced themselves under the showersand yelled for the man in charge to turn on the water. Instead ofbeing washed away by the force of the current, as the firmly bracedattitude of each gave evidence that such was to be the case, theopening wide of the flood-gates let four needle-like streams of waterdescend upon each figure. The eight took the bath good-naturedly and as they passed out of thebathhouse, making room for the next eight to enter, they passed wordalong the end of the waiting line to the effect that it would be justas expedient to take off the slicker and stand out in the rain, thatwas still falling. The same evening orders to leave the rest camp came forth. At 6 p. M. The regiment was assembled on the parade ground and soon started itsmarch back over the four miles, through Cherbourg, to the railroadyards of the Ouest-Etat railway, which skirted the docks. Arrived there at 7:45 p. M. , sections of French trains were assembledready to receive the soldiers. This assemblage of coaches was ofinfinitely greater variety than those of English ownership. Thirdclass coaches were in evidence, but of greater import were the boxcars containing the inscription, "40 Hommes or 8 Chevaux. " Forty men or eight horses may have been the official capacity but whenforty soldiers with equipment C were assigned to such a car to spendthe night and several succeeding nights, all that was needed to makesardines was a little oil. Several sections of the battery were fortunate in securing third-classaccommodations, but the remainder prepared to settle themselves in thebox cars, the majority of which cars turned out to have flat wheels asthe journey started. Daylight remained abroad for the first two hours of the journey;while the cars jolted over the rails the boys sang and kept alive thespirit. Then came darkness. No lights in the car. Forty men stretchedout in a small box-car. Incidently it might be added that a Frenchbox-car is about one-half the size of similar type of car used on therailroads in the United States. It wasn't fair to kick your buddy inthe face or get on his ear. The night, however, gradually wore on andthe towns of Valognes, Isigny and Manche St. Lo, were passed. Thenceout of the Manche department, through the railroad center at Vire, inCalvados, the special, with its side-door Pullmans, rolled on, enroutethrough Flers, Coutenne and Pre during the early hours of the morningof August 6th. Daylight dawned as Alencon was reached and at 11:30 a. M. , Le Mans loomed in sight. A half-hour's ride from Le Mans and anhalf-hour lay-over was ordered. The troops were allowed to alight forthe time. A supply of iron rations was also furnished each car fromthe supply car of the special. The next stop was made at Tours from 6 to 8 p. M. A short lay-over wasalso made at Poitiers at 11 p. M. The troop special was then nearingits destination. But few on board were aware that at the end of thenext thirty-four kilometers was Montmorillon, in the department ofVienne, which was to be the stopping off place of Battery D for a stayof several weeks. The troop special of thirty-five coaches and box cars, pulled into thestation at Montmorillon at 1 a. M. ; all was quiet about the station. Amajority of the soldiers were too tired to care about location. Theyslumbered on as best they could in their box-car berths, while thespecial was pulled in on a siding, to remain until daylight when theorder to detrain was to be issued. [Illustration: MONTMORILLON STATIONWhere Battery D Detrained in France After Leaving British Rest Campat Cherbourg. ] [Illustration: MONTMORILLON STREET SCENEBuilding Marked X was Billet for Half of the Battery During the FirstMonth Spent on French Soil. ] CHAPTER XV. WHITE TROOPS INVADE MONTMORILLON. Dotted with quaint architecture of 12th and 13th century Romanesqueand Gothic design, the hills of Vienne department, France, cradle thecrystal-clear and drowsy-moving waters of the Gartempe, a river, whichin its course winds through the town of Montmorillon, where fourthousand French peasantry, on August 7th, received their first lessonin American cosmopolitism. Montmorillon, where the boys of Battery D were billeted for the firsttime in the midst of the French people; where they received theirfirst impressions on French life and mannerisms, lives in memory ofthe boys as the prettiest, cleanest and most-comfortable place of anythe outfit visited during its sojourn in France. Despite the fact that a feeling of strained hospitality attended thereception of the 311th Artillery, the first body of white Americantroops to visit Montmorillon, the cloud of suspicion was soon liftedand four weeks of smiling August sunshine days, undarkened byrainclouds, were spent along the banks of the Gartempe. When the 311th troops alighted from the troop special early on themorning of their arrival, the station and avenues of approach to thetown were guarded by American negro M.  P. 's, members of the 164thArtillery Brigade, who had arrived in the town several weeks previousand had made themselves at home with the natives. The 311th was not in Montmorillon many days before the explanation ofthe half-hearted reception came to light. An element of negro troopshad started the story on its rounds among the guileless Frenchpeasants that the white troops, who had just arrived, comprised the"Scum of America, " and that they (the negroes) were the realAmericans; the whites being the so-called "American Indians. " As theflames of gossip spread from tongue to tongue, admonition was addedthat the white arrivals were dangerous and corrupt and the Frenchshould refrain from associating with the new arrivals. Thus there was created an intense and bitter racial feeling thatloomed gigantic and threatened open racial hostilities as the whiteand colored American troops traveled the same streets of a foreignvillage; were admitted to the same cafes and vied with each other forthe friendship of the French populace. Street fights were not infrequent, while scenes in cafes wereenacted wherein white refused to sit in the same room with coloredtroops or vice-versa. Persisting in their set standard of chivalry, the element of the whitesoldiers often took it as ordained to induce the French demoiselles toleave the company of their opposite in blood. Many of the coloredtroops were equally persistent, with the result that the breach ofill-feeling gaped bigger, until official cognizance came to bear. Within a short time the 164th Brigade was withdrawn from Montmorillon, leaving the 311th to commence its active and intensive course oftraining on foreign soil. On August 7th, the day of the 311th's arrival, the troops waited atthe station for several hours while the billeting officers werelocating billets throughout the town. Iron rations were partaken of atthe station and everybody was glad that battery mess outfits wouldsoon set up shop and the American Q.  M. System of rationing would beresumed. The march through the town to the various assigned billeting districtswas started from the station at 9:30 o'clock. The batteries of theregiment were scattered in various billets throughout the town. Everyvacant house, barn or shed that possibly could be pressed intoservice, was designated as a billet for the troops. Battery D continued its march through the town; across the cementbridge over the Gartempe; into an octagon-shaped intersection ofpublic streets, lined with several three-story buildings, theprincipal one of which gave evidence of being a cafe and bore thesign, "Cafe du Commerce. " Opposite the bridge, the route was along Rue de Strasburg, where, inthe rear of the Cafe du Commerce, Battery D halted before athree-story stone structure that bore signs of having been vacated formany years. The area billeting officer produced a large key, threw open the doorand half the battery was ushered inside. It immediately fell theirtask to brush the cow-webs from the ceilings; gather up the fallenplaster from the floor; sweep out several years' accumulation of dirtand dust; while the old-fashioned shutters were pried open for thefirst time in many years and the sunshine streamed into the rooms, todrive away, to some degree, the mustiness of environment. The other half of the battery was directed to a barn structureabout a block distant from the first battery abode. Clean-upactivities of similar nature were instituted in the barn. About 3 o'clock that afternoon the barrack bags of the regiment werereceived and distributed to the soldiers. The bags had been in transitever since leaving Camp Meade. Arrangements were made with several French farmers to bring a quantityof straw to the public square, where the soldiers, later in theafternoon, filled their bed ticks. It was on a tick of straw, thrownon the floor of the old dilapidated, vacated house, that one hundredof the battery spent their nights of sleep in Montmorillon while theother half occupied similar beds on the upper-lofts of the barn. There were no formations the morning after arrival. The battery menspent most of the time about town. It was strange to observe thepeasantry hobbling along in their wooden shoes, the flopping of theloose footwear at the heels beating a rhythmic clap, clap on thecobblestone pave. Each day brought new scenes of peasant life. Quaintly and slowly oxenunder yoke were used on the streets to haul the farmers' grain to thelarge public square, where, under the scorching sun the farmer and hishelpers toiled with hand flailers, thrashing the grain. Strangelooking carts, drawn by donkeys with large ears, vied with theox-carts for supremacy of traffic. Along the river's edge were located public places for clothes-washing. The peasant whose house adjoined the river had a private place at thewater's-edge where the family washing was done. The river served as ahuge tub for the entire community, the women carrying their wash tothe river, where, kneeling at special devised wash-boards, garmentswere rubbed and paddled until they shown immaculate. Washing was greatly increased at the river when the 311th came totown. The hundreds of soldiers sought out washer-women. The peasantwomen welcomed the opportunity of earning a few francs doing Americanwashing. The more active of the washer-women spent entire days washingat the river for the soldiers. At first one franc was a standard pricefor having a week's laundry done, but as days passed and businessbecame brisker, rates went up to two, five and in some instanceshigher. To the Americans the town of Montmorillon, as was the case of most ofthe ancient towns visited in France, presented an impression ofisolation. Houses built during the 12th century with their high wallssurrounding and barricaded entrances, were greatly in evidence; housesof such nature, history records, as furnishing protection in the dayswhen feudalism fought at spear-points. The stages and wages of waradvanced with the centuries, but not so with the ancient French town;where the peasants live content with no sewerage or drainage system;content to pursue the antiquated customs. To be thrown in the midst ofthis 12th century environment was productive of lasting impressions onthe part of the American troops who were suddenly transplanted from aland of 20th century civilization and advancement, to an old andforeign soil. The first night the 311th was in Montmorillon fire broke out in "TheBaines, " an ornate and modern French homestead near the Cafe duCommerce. Several officers of the 311th regiment had secured quartersin the Baines. They were forced to vacate by the fire. Bucket brigadeswas the only fire protection the prefecture afforded its citizenry. The fire drew a large crowd of the new soldiers, a score of whom tookactive charge of fighting the blaze; giving the Frenchmen a realexhibition in the art of bucket-brigade fire extinction. Time, however, was not to view French scenery. Training activity wasthe official topic of interest. It was decreed that instruction in theschool of the soldier should begin immediately. Fifty per cent of theregiment comprised new recruits, who had been assigned to the outfitprevious to departure from Camp Meade. It was necessary to begin thetraining at the beginning. Out from the town, among the open farm lands, a large grain field wassecured as a drill field for the battery. It required a thirty-fiveminute hike from the battery billeting area to reach the drill field. This hike was in order every morning and afternoon. The time on thedrill field was spent in learning the rudiments in much the samemanner as the training was started and progressed with the firstrecruits at Camp Meade. When 4 o'clock of each afternoon came, the order was established for aswim in the river as the parting day's rejuvenator. Montmorillon wasthe only place in France where the battery got frequent baths. Saturday morning for the troops at Montmorillon was generally inspectiontime. Inspections were held on the public plaza. Showdown inspectionswere as exacting as Camp Meade days. Saturday afternoon and Sundaywere days of rest for those who were lucky enough to escape detail. Regimental services were held in the public square on Sunday mornings, while many of the soldiers visited the curious, two-storied chapel ofoctagonal form and Romanesque style, that was built in the 12thcentury, in which services were still conducted. The chapel isconnected with the ecclesiastical seminary that occupies a buildingthat was formerly an Augustinian convent. The Church of the Notre Dame is another ancient landmark ofMontmorillon that held interest for the Americans. It, also, is a 12thcentury building, built on a high slope, with its chapel underminedwith a series of catacombs. Trips of inspection to these subaltereanchambers, where the worship of the early ages was conducted, werenumerous and interesting to the soldiers. Various schools for instruction of the officers of the regiment wereestablished at Montmorillon. A detachment of new officers from theSaumur school arrived in town to take charge of the training workwhile the regular officers attended the schools. Second Lieut. SidneyF. Bennett of Derby, Vermont, was assigned to Battery D at this timeand was given plenty of work in supervising the morning drill andbattery instructions. Lieut. Bennett immediately won great favor amongthe men. He varied his periods of drill and training with athletics. "O'Grady, " "Crow and Crane, " "Belt 'Round the ring, " and numerousother sport contests were indulged in with great vim. A battery kitchen, utilizing the field range, was set up in closeproximity to the two battery billets. Here the boys lined up withtheir mess-kits three times a day. They sat out in the narrow Frenchstreet as they appeased their appetites. Gone were the mess halltables of Camp Meade days. Gone were the cots of Camp Meade memory. Cheer was added, however, when mail from the United States and homebegan to reach the outfit. The first despatch of mail to reach BatteryD overseas was at Montmorillon on August 13th. Then on August 14th came the first overseas payday. The batterymembers were paid with an addition of ten per cent for foreignservice. The first pay was in French currency, the rate of exchange atthe time being 5:45 francs to the American dollar. When French peasants toiled a whole day for several francs and whenthe pay of the French soldier was not equalling one franc a day, the French, when the American private was paid $33 a month in179. 85 francs, gained the idea that all Americans were millionaires. The result was the establishment of two standards of price in Frenchshops; one price for the French and a higher price for the Americans. Souvenir postcards sold anywhere from 10 centimes to five francsapiece. In the matter of fruits, peaches commanded one franc for threeduring the peach season; apples sold two for one franc; while tomatoesthat should have sold for one franc a basket, brought one franc forfive. The soldiers were allowed to be on the streets until 9 o'clock eachnight. Many spent their money freely. The wine shops did a thrivingbusiness and as is usual in large crowds, the element was present thatwas not satisfied with sampling the large assortment of wine-vintagesbut indulged in Cognac. Strict disciplinary measures were immediatelyadopted. Several of the first offenders, none of whom, however, werefrom Battery D ranks, were reduced in rank at a public battalionformation on the public square. The cognac proclivities of the few endangered the privileges of themany in having freedom to visit in the town at night. Batterypunishment was inflicted at times, which constituted carrying a fullpack on the back at drill formation or for a certain period afterdrill hours. Toward the latter part of August steps were taken to organize abattery commander's detail. Lieut. Hugh M. Clarke took charge of theinstruction work. Special instruction was started in map and roadsketching, orientation and signal work. The battery in general wasalso put through a strenuous course in the use of the semaphore andthe wigwag. On August 21st the regiment passed in review on the large regimentaldrill ground, under a burning sun. The swim in the river at the closeof that day was especially inviting. While in Montmorillon Lieut. Sidney F. Bennett instituted a series ofbattalion and regimental setting-up exercises. Calesthenics, to themusic of the regimental band, was the feature of the exercises. The long hike to the grain field drill ground was abandoned after twoweeks and the village plaza was used for drill purposes. About thistime several French army sergeants were attached to the regiment andinstruction in gun pit construction was started. Details were keptbusy for several days digging gun pits near the regimental drillgrounds, but before the job was fully completed orders came forthe regiment to leave Montmorillon. Present day reminiscences vouch for the fact that the stay inMontmorillon was most pleasant. The weather had been ideal throughoutthe month of August. Except for a detachment from the regiment whoreplaced the negro M.  P. 's no guard duty was necessary in the town. During the first week of September, 1918, however, all that the boyshad to compare their lots and life in Montmorillon with was Camp Meaderegime. In the light of this comparison many expressed words ofapproval that the outfit was finally getting away from such a horridplace. Those who failed to see the good points of Montmorillon, moreover, were without knowledge of what the future held in store forthe outfit in its journey through France. CHAPTER XVI. ACTIVE TRAINING AT LA COURTINE. La Courtine, a village in the Department of Creuse, France, issurrounded by hilly country, the very nature of the hills affordingideal artillery range. La Courtine, therefore, was the site of aFrench artillery camp for many years. The village is divided into two parts; that which is gathered around aprogressive looking station, and part is on a hill, which part iscalled Hightown. Both parts are confined to one street, replete withbars and cafes. It was to La Courtine that the 311th was bound after leavingMontmorillon. The French had turned the artillery camp over to theAmericans and thither the 311th regiment was sent to get active andintense training in range fire with the use of the French 75's. The troop special assigned to the regiment upon leaving Montmorillonwas made up of box cars, many of which had recently been used totransport crude oil, evinced by the oil on the floor of the cars. Ontoevery box car was loaded anywhere from 36 to 50 soldiers and a supplyof iron-rations for the trip. Montmorillon was last seen at 10 a. M. , September 4th, when the tripof box cars began to jolt and bang and back and switch over the rails, with the troops aboard making the best of the situation, reclining onstraw that had been secured to partly cover the crude oil. The route was through Dorat, Gueter, Busseau and Feletin. La Courtinewas reached at 9 o'clock. As per usual the first few sections of thebattery were left at the station as a baggage detail, while theremainder of the battery marched through the village to the camp onthe outskirts. The camp consisted of concrete barracks, with no lights at night and amajority of the windows broken. The floor and ceiling, however, wassolid, which, at least, meant dry shelter during the nights ofFrance's rainy season, soon to be experienced. Besides having a majority of the window panes broken, the barracksbore marks of having been the target for machine-gun bullets. Theexterior walls were pitted with holes. Battery D was not in camp longbefore the members knew the story of the Russian revolt that had beenstaged at La Courtine during the days of Russia's exit from the war. When Russia withdrew from the fighting Camp La Courtine shelteredRussian troops. When the crash came part of the Russian army encampedthere revolted against a portion that sought to remain loyal toFrance. The result was battle. The revolutionists fortified thesurrounding hills with machine-guns and opened fire on the barracks ofthe camp below. Many Russians were slain in the revolt and lie buriedin a cemetery in the camp. The revolt was finally suppressed by adetachment of French cavalry dispatched to the scene. Sleeping quarters at Camp La Courtine contained bunks made of two-inchplank, on which the Americans used their bed-ticks filled with straw. Battery kitchens were set up the morning after arrival. The kitchenswere located under a tented roof. Mess was enjoyed by the soldiers outin the open, as there was no mess hall for Battery D. Except a slight rain the first day at Montmorillon, the four weeksspent by the outfit in Vienne Department were weeks of sunshinewithout a single day of rain, save the slight shower on the day ofarrival. It was the declining days of the French dry-season. Advent ofthe outfit at La Courtine was with the rainy season. It rained thefirst night in camp and it kept raining almost continuously during thetwo months the battery spent at range practice. The weather, however, affected no training schedules. The first daysat La Courtine were given over to hours of intensive exercise, drilland instruction in all lines of artillery work. Specialty schools werestarted in orientation, telephone, radio, machine-gunners, etc. It was at La Courtine that Bill Brennan and Joe Loskill, whoaccompanied the advance detail of the regiment to France, rejoined thebattery. They had arrived at La Courtine several weeks previous toattend the machine-gun school. The machine-gunners, who left thebattery at Montmorillon to attend the school, were also at La Courtinewhen the battery arrived. Instruction was continued from early morning until nightfall. A largeRussian cannon was discharged in the camp each morning at 5 o'clock, also at retreat time each night. Reveille was a daily formation but, as was the case at Montmorillon, retreat was suspended during themonths the war continued. All energy was devoted to essentialwar-training formations. Camp La Courtine housed a large and well-equipped American Y.  M.  C.  A. , presided over by a large and capable staff of secretaries. To amajority of the troops the Y.  M.  C.  A. Furnished greater inducementfor an evening's entertainment than did the numerous wineshopsdown town, that always stood open and ready to receive the cash of theAmerican soldiers. On September 10th matériel began to arrive for the regiment. Within afew days the regiment was equipped with French artillery equipment, the field pieces being the famous French 75 millimetre guns. It was the first time that a majority of the boys of the regiment evercame in contact with a 75. During the period of training at CampMeade, Md. , U.  S.  A. , the old members of Battery D spent eight monthsin learning the 3-inch American field gun. It was an entirely newproposition when equipped with 75's and ordered to range practice. Instruction was also started in equitation and harnessing. Frenchartillery harness presented many new problems to the Americans. Many asoldier became highly exasperated in a vain attempt to untangle a setof French harness. About twenty horses were furnished the regiment at La Courtine. Several motor trucks were also supplied, whereby sufficient tractionwas secured to drag the guns out among the surrounding hills foractual firing practice. Battery D was not long in getting acquainted with the French 75's. OnSeptember 16th, just a brief span after the first instruction on themechanism of the gun, the boys fired the first salvos on the range atLa Courtine. September 19th was the beginning of what was almost incessant work onthe range. Rolling out at 5 a. M. , the boys toiled on the rangethrough the rain and mud, returning to barracks at 6:30 p. M. Training continued in intensity. September 30th was one of the daysreveille sounded at 4:30 a. M. The weather was miserable--rainy, windy, dreary. The battery left the barracks at day-break and hiked tothe range with field-packs, to sleep in pup tents on range grounds, tobe on hand early the following morning. Gas masks and steel helmets were additional implements of war issuedto the soldiers at La Courtine. Then followed hour after hour of gasinstruction. Gas masks were carried by the battery on all hikes anddrill formations. Besides adjusting the mask a countless number oftimes a day, a regimental order made it mandatory that the masks beworn for at least one-half hour continuously each day. Influenza struck the regiment while encamped at La Courtine earlyin October. On October 5th, the camp Y.  M.  C.  A. Was closed underquarantine. The quarantine in the regiment was accompanied by strictdaily inspections. The barrack squad rooms were thoroughly cleaned anddisinfected each day and all blankets were taken out for a dailyairing. There was a plentiful supply of ammunition at La Courtine. The batteryspent the days at range practice when thousands of dollars worth ofshells were fired at a great variety of targets from several differentbattery positions that were established. While the battery was fitting itself at range practice, specialistswere qualifying in all the attendant duties of artillery work. Towardthe last of October it looked as though the outfit would soon seeactive service, as perfection in firing was rapidly being reached. On October 15th the battery camouflage detail, headed by Sergeant LeoDelaney, of Pittston, Penna. , began the construction of camouflagedgun positions on the range, after which Battery D participated in thefiring of a brigade problem. Several days previous, October 11th, William Reynolds, of Pottsville, Penna. , was killed when acting as No.  1 man of the first gun crew, incharge of Sergeant James Duffy, of Parsons, Penna. Standing in therear of the piece, Sergeant Duffy had given the command to fire. Theexecution of the command was immediately followed by an explosion inthe gun's tube, a portion of steel flying and striking PrivateReynolds, almost decapitating him. Nicholas Young, of Pottsville, Penna. , acting as Number 2 man on the gun-crew, sustained a compoundfracture of the leg. Gunner-Corporal John Chardell, of Hazleton, Penna. , sustained injuries about the body which confined him to thecamp hospital for several weeks. Private Reynolds was buried in the American cemetery at Camp LaCourtine on Saturday, October 12th, at 2 p. M. , with military honors. This first casualty overseas awakened a new cord of sympathy among thebattery members and it was with thoughtful determination they turnedfrom the grave of their departed comrade and went back to their tasksof preparing for active war. Training was continued amid rumors of early departure for activebattle sectors. As early as October 10th orders were received for theoutfit to prepare to move. Supply wagons, etc. , were immediatelypacked. Days passed, but no transportation was in sight. Each daythe boys looked for an order to entrain, but the R.  T.  O. 's were notheard from. Thrilling news of the final stages of the drives reached the boysthrough the Paris editions of the New York Herald and Chicago Tribune, that were sold in the camp each day. The news enthused the soldiersand thrilled them with the desire to move forward and get in on thegrand finale. They had toiled early and late, in all kinds of weather, to learn how, and it is natural to presume that a red-blooded soldieryearned the opportunity to make use of that knowledge acquired withsuch sacrifice and toil. While waiting orders to move the battery took up a new position on therange. A brigade firing problem including a night barrage was fired onOctober 21st, with the signal details at work with signal rockets. The brigade problem, which was the last firing the battery did inFrance, ended on October 30th with the laying down of a defensivebarrage. The problem required twenty-four consecutive hours. On October 28th, First Lieutenant C.  D. Bailey joined the battery atLa Courtine. Lieut. Bailey was formerly of the ambulance service ofthe French army and the S.  S.  U. , No.  5. And at that time, he was theonly man in the regiment entitled to wear a French decoration. Meanwhile the outfit was packed up in the main, and was ready to moveat short notice. With the approach of November the boys thought theirmovement was assured and plans were laid for a "feed, " consisting of apig-roast, to be held on November 2nd. Late in the afternoon of November 2nd death claimed First-SergeantJames J. Farrell, of Parsons, Penna. , who died a victim of pneumonia. Sergeant Farrell, who was a regular army service man, was buried at LaCourtine on Monday, November 4th. The same day, November 4th, another battery member was claimed indeath by Influenza. He was Private Horace Fardon, of Paterson, N.  J. , who was buried on November 5th. That evening at 6:55 o'clock PrivateFirst-Class Joseph A. Loughran, of Hazleton, Penna. , fell a victim topneumonia. Private Loughran was buried alongside Private Fardon, onthe morning of November 6th. Besides paying last military honors to their departed comrades theboys spent the days previous to the cessation of the fighting on thepistol range, developing their proficiency with side-arms. On the evening of Wednesday, November 6th, a battery entertainmentwas staged in the auditorium of the camp Y.  M.  C.  A. A mock trial wasthe feature of the entertainment. On one of the trips to the pistol range, on November 5th, PrivateWilliam Van Campen, of Ridgewood, N.  J. , walked into a loaded handgrenade, which he kicked. The resultant explosion caught him in theknee and incapacitated him on the hospital list. Corporal James F. Kelly, of Plains, Penna. , almost collided with a grenade on the sametrip. An order was issued, November 9th, for front-line packs to be rolled;transportation was in sight. The inevitable delay resulted, however. All transportation facilities were busy hauling ammunition to thefront where the Allies were giving the Germans the rain of fire thatcaused them to think seriously and quick about an armistice. [Illustration: ENTRANCE TO CAMP LA COURTINE, FRANCERoad Leading from the Village Street to the Artillery Camp. The Scene ofthe Armistice Celebration. ] [Illustration: AMERICAN Y.  M.  C.  A. AT CAMP LA COURTINEOfficers' Mess Hall of French Camp Used as a Recreational Center by theAmerican Army. ] CHAPTER XVII. NOVEMBER ELEVENTH AT LA COURTINE. November 11th, 1918, was a memorable day to the populace of LaCourtine, France, as was the case in every hamlet, village, town orcity in the world, when the news was flashed that Germany had acceptedthe terms of an Allied armistice and that fighting was to cease at 11a. M. That day. The armistice that ended the World War was signed at 5a. M. , Paris time, and hostilities ceased six hours later, which was 6o'clock Washington time. The American troops encamped at La Courtine this eventful timereceived the tidings with great joy. The roads leading from the campto the village were crowded with soldiers who paraded up and down inhysterical good humor. The crowds thronged into the village where theone main street was ablaze with celebration. The French populace wereout to celebrate with the Americans. The cafes did a land officebusiness. Wine flowed freely. The French kissed the Americans in someinstances as the celebrators swayed through the street. The band wasout. The crowds shouted, yelled, sang and cut-up all kinds of antics. The scene, however, was similar to that enacted everywhere throughoutthe Allied world. The end of the fighting was officially announced andeverybody was glad. The same hysterical good humor swayed the crowdsat La Courtine that prompted like celebrations throughout the UnitedStates. Great as was the enthusiasm and celebration of November 11th, the biggusto of celebration had been spent at La Courtine, as was the caseeverywhere else, on Thursday evening, November 7th, when a prematureand unofficial announcement of the armistice was made. Battery D spent the afternoon of November 7th on the pistol range. About 5 o'clock the news quickly spread that a bulletin announcing theend of the fighting had been posted at the Y.  M.  C.  A. The bulletinwas up only a short time when it was removed, with the explanationthat it was unofficial, also contradicted. But the anxious hearers, as was the case everywhere, wanted nodenials. The enthusiasm of the hour made people speak of the thingwhich they had been hoping for as though it had come true. Consequently the enthusiasm led to celebration. It was a gala night in La Courtine. The days following brought soberrealization that the end had not yet come. Stern realities of warloomed big in Battery D circles on Saturday, November 9th, when afront-line pack inspection was in order. A quiet Sunday followed, then, at noon on Monday, November 11th, camethe authentic news of the armistice signing. Joyous celebrationstarted immediately and assumed its peak during the afternoon whenspecial passes were issued to the soldiers to visit in the village. The celebration continued until late at night. Official recognition of the news was thundered from the cannon at CampLa Courtine at retreat, when a royal salute of twenty-one guns wasfired. The following day was also an off day for Battery D. Passes to visitthe town were issued to half the outfit from reveille to 3 p. M. , while the other fifty per cent were given the privilege from 3 p. M. Until 11 p. M. Word was received that the regiment was to entrain at La Courtine onNovember 14th. Preparations were immediately made for a farewellbanquet. After great preparation by the cooks and the K.  P. 's, thebanquet was staged at 6 o'clock on November 13th, with stewed chickenas the mainstay of the menu. A number of the Y.  M.  C.  A. Girls wereguests at the banquet. Thursday, November 14th, the regiment had the task of getting itsmatériel to the station at La Courtine for transportation by rail to anew billeting area of France. No one could guess where it was to be orwhat the future held in store for the troops in the way of service andtraining during the months that were sure to intervene before it was aquestion of homeward bound. The regiment was well supplied with matériel, but had no horses. Anumber of motor trucks were sought out to haul the heavier of thesupply wagons. It was necessary for the soldiers to furnish the powerto drag the guns and caissons from the camp to the station, a distanceof over a mile. The matériel was loaded on flat cars at the station. Then the soldierswere ushered to side-door Pullmans once again. Bed ticks were notemptied of their straw before leaving camp. Thus the soldiers enteredthe box cars with their bed ticks as a mattress to recline on thefloor of the car. The first section of flat cars and box cars with Battery D left LaCourtine at 2:30 o'clock. Another seeing France by box-car trip wason. An improvement in mess enroute was experienced during this trip. A flat car was used for the rolling kitchen. Hot meals were preparedin transit. Back over the same route, through Feletin and Abusson, tothe junction point at Busseau, the troop special proceeded, reachingthe junction at 6:30 o'clock when mess call was sounded. Here thefirst section of the train waited until 8:27 for the arrival of thesecond section at the junction point. It was dark when the trip was resumed. Deprived by the darkness fromsight-seeing privileges, all that remained for the troops to do was tostretch out on the floor and try to sleep. The nights were long anddark while traveling in a French box car. During the night the towns of Jarnages and Montlucon were passed. Thetrain entered the Department of Allier, traveling Northeast, throughCommentry, Villefranche, le Montel and Moulins. Daylight was breaking by the time Moulins was sighted. Stop was madeat Paray le Monial from 7:30 to 8 a. M. , when breakfast was servedfrom the flat truck dining car. The next day, November 15th, was spent traveling through a beautifulstretch of country. The railroad ran almost parallel with the Boninoeriver, a branch of the Loire. Through pasture lands and farmingcountry, the road stretched along Palinges, Montceau, Changy, Beaune. A lay-over for lunch was made at Nuits St. Georges at 1 p. M. In the afternoon stop was made at Dijon, where the troops got a chanceto detrain and partake of refreshments that a corps of French RedCross workers served at the station. Soon after leaving Dijon darkness fell upon the troop special. The sunhad not yet gone to rest. The famous tunnel between Sombernon andBlaizy-Bas had been penetrated. This tunnel, on the road to Paris, maybe a note-worthy piece of engineering skill, but its designersevidently never dreamed of a troop special of thirty or forty old boxcars, many with rust-corroded doors that could not be closed, whizzingthrough; leaving the passengers to eat up the exhaust from the smokestacks of the locomotive. At this time the troop train was headed Northwest, toward Paris, buthopes of getting near Gay Paree were soon shattered. When Nuits sousRavieres was reached, switch over to another branch was made and thedirection then was Northeast, toward Chaumont, the A.  E.  F. Headquarters town. Stop for night mess was made at Les Laumes, where orders were alsoissued for the troops to get their packs ready as the outfit woulddetrain in about three hours time. A heavy frost developed that night and the troops almost froze in theboxcars. After delay in getting started from Les Laumes the journeycontinued over a considerable longer period than three hours. Laigneand St. Colombre were passed and La Tracey, the detraining point, wasreached at 3 a. M. , Saturday, November 16th, 1918. Reveille was not sounded until 6 a. M. During the interim most of thetroops left the boxcars and built fires in the railroad yards, aroundwhich they sought warmth during the early morning hours. The hustle to get all the matériel from the flat trucks started at 6o'clock. A section of a motor transportation corps was dispatched toLa Tracey to convey the regiment to its new billeting district. Themotor outfit was late in arriving, but finally start was made. Threeand four guns and caissons were attached to each truck, the truckloaded with soldiers and packs, then for a thirty kilometer racethrough the Marne Department in motorized artillery form. The lastdetail did not leave La Tracey until 4 p. M. The first details arrived at Ville sous La Ferte, a small village inthe Department of Aube. This village was the billeting center for the2nd Battalion of the regiment. Regimental headquarters was establishedat Clairvaux, four kilometers from Ville sous La Ferte. The 1stBattalion went to Juvancourt, about a kilometer distant. Farm lands and vineyards surrounded these villages. The inhabitantswere of the quiet peasant type. With nothing of interest and no formof amusement, Ville sous La Ferte was a quiet place for Battery D. Thebattery was divided among a score of barns, lofts, sheds and houses, covering considerable length of a village street. A grist mill withits water-wheel and mill-pond was situated near the building in whichthe battery office was established. All formations were assembled inthe street in front of the battery office. Difficulty was experiencedduring the stay at this place in getting the battery out at allformations, especially those members who were billeted in the loft ofa barn at the extreme end of the battery street. As a remedy thebattery buglers were given the job of traversing the street eachmorning and routing out the fellows. It was mid-November. The days and evenings were getting damp andchilly. Fires were comfortable things those days, but heating stoveswere unknown to the peasant homes of Ville sous La Ferte. Thehouses were equipped with fire-places. The big question, however, was to procure fuel. It was all the battery could do to get a supplyof wood from nearby woodlands to supply the needs of the batterykitchen. At first the fellows started to make raids on the wood pilethat came in for the kitchen, but this soon had to be stopped undernecessity of suspension of the commissary department. For many of the squads billeted in the barns and sheds there was nochance for warmth as there were no fire-places. During the damp, coldnights the only choice the inhabitants of those billets had was toroll in and keep warm under the blankets. To chop a tree down in the numbered forests of France was to commit acrime, so the fellows who were in billets that did have fire placesfaced a series of crimes to get wood. The inhabitants of such billetstook it upon themselves to devise ways and means to obtain fuel. Theoccupants of one billet sent details out to root up old fence postsfrom adjacent farm-lands; while in another instance eighteen menhoused in a billet borrowed several French wheel-barrows and at nightmade a raid on a large pile of newly cut tree trunks which was locateda kilometer from the village. The result of this night's work provided fuel and light for severaldays in the billet of the raiding party. Light was another essentialfeature. With candles selling as high as a franc apiece, letterwriting home was sadly neglected in many cases. So the receipt of anextra letter written by the light of a log-blaze, kindled with woodsecured through great difficulty, has had to act as savoringrepentance for any misconduct employed in acquiring possession of themeans of light and heat. The battery had among its equipment dozens of new horse-blankets. Withthe exception of a few stray animals, no horses had been received bythe battery in France thus far. Several were in care of the outfit atVille sous La Ferte, where six horses caused as much stable detailwork as a complete battery of mounts occasioned at Camp Meade. Themain feature, moreover, was the distribution of the horse-blanketsamong the troops in an effort to keep warm at night. There was no room in Ville sous La Ferte to do any maneuvering, so theguns and caissons were parked in a field and were not used during thestay. The time of the soldier was employed in hikes and various formsof athletics. Soccer developed as the leading sport and great rivalryresulted in games that were played on furrowed ground of a large wheatfield. War was over, so official orders again gave birth to Retreatformation, which was held with much disciplinary ado in front of theHotel de Ville at 4:15 o'clock each afternoon. Guard mount was alsodecreed and last, but not least, regimental reviews came into theirown with great official solemnity. On Thursday, November 21st, a wild boar hunt that had been planned bythe battery, had to be called off. A regimental review was to be heldat Clairvaux that afternoon. The 2nd Battalion formed at 1 p. M. And hiked to Clairvaux with colorsflying for the big review. A mix-up in giving commands "flunked" thefirst attempt at passing in review. The entire ceremony of dignity hadto be executed a second time. Close order drill then came into itsown. The following day, November 22nd, the battalion again hiked toClairvaux, where another review was staged and the regiment kept atbattalion close-order drill until 4 o'clock. Sunday, November 24th, reveille sounded at 6 o'clock. Orders weregiven to make rolls preparatory to moving. When the soldiers wereready to move the order was changed. It was discovered that the motortrucks would not arrive until the following day. The motor transportation squad was expected to arrive early on Mondaymorning. It was 9 o'clock at night when they arrived. Departure wasdelayed until next morning, but this did not keep back an order thatcalled the battery out in detail during a heavy rain at 9:30 Mondaynight to pull the guns and caissons through the mud, from the fieldwhere they had been parked to the road, so that they could be attachedto the motor trucks. There was a great tendency to "duck detail" thatnight. Ville sous La Ferte was finally left in the distance, Tuesday, November 26th, at 10 o'clock. The soldiers and their packs had to pilein the few motor trucks that were furnished. A few of the boys rodethe matériel attached to the trucks and had a wild ride. The rollingkitchen of the battery, with ovens blazing away, covered the roads ata fine clip behind a motor truck, with George Musial having his handsfull trying to manipulate the brake. The trip continued through Maranville and Bricon. Chaumont was circledabout 4 o'clock and stop was made about twenty-one kilometers fromA.  E.  F. Headquarters, at a sleepy little hamlet of about fifty housesand barns, called Blancheville. [Illustration: A BATTERY D KITCHEN CREWPhoto Taken at Mess Tent at Camp La Courtine, France. ] [Illustration: GROUP OF BATTERY D SERGEANTSCapts. Clarke, Smith, and Hall in foreground. ] CHAPTER XVIII. MUD AND BLANCHEVILLE. Blancheville, mud and mules are associated in memory of the holidayseason of 1918-19 that Battery D spent in France. It was Thanksgiving week when Battery D arrived in Blancheville. Theauto convoy deposited the battery paraphernalia in the vicinity of theold stone church and graveyard that stood along the main highway asthe landmark and chief building of the village. Nearby stood the onlyother building of import--a stone structure that housed a pool ofwater in the manner of the ancients. This was the public pool wherethe women of the village came to do the family washing, as the villagewas deprived of the natural advantages of a river. Watering troughssurrounded this wash-house on two sides. Twice daily the cattle andlive-stock from all the village barns were led to this watering place. Water for drinking purposes was also supplied the village from aspecial fountain on the exterior side opposite the water troughs. Mud was the chief characteristic of Blancheville. It was a farmingcommunity of unusual quietude. Plenty of barns and roosts were foundin which to billet the battery. The natives were very hospitable. Theyreadily chased out the cows and the chickens to make room for theAmericans. The boys lived next door to animal nature. In one billet anadjacent room housed the live stock and it was not uncommon to haveslumbers awakened by the cow walking into the sleeping quarters of thetroops. While in Blancheville the boys got used to the largest of the Frenchrat species. During the hours of the night they traveled flat-footedover the faces and forms of sleeping soldiers, also played havoc withall soldier equipment stored in the billet. It may sound like myth, but it is a fact that a rat in one billet dragged an army mess kitacross the floor--they were some rats. On the road opposite the church stood an old, one-story stone buildingthat was built in its present form, eight hundred years ago. The roofwas overgrown with moss and one corner had started to crumble in fromold age. In this building Corporals James Cataldo and Michael A. Tito, the battery barbers, set up a barber shop. They did good businessafter they were able to convince the battery in general that the roofwould not cave in for another hundred years. The first day in Blancheville was spent in parking the guns andcaissons, digging Latrines and the usual duties attendant uponestablishing a new battery home. It was also a job in itself to makesome semblance at getting some of the billets cleaned up and half fitto sleep in. Reveille for the first few mornings was at 8 o'clock. Thursday, November 28th, was an off day for the outfit, except those on K.  P. , who got an extra job in preparing a battery Thanksgiving spread. Theday was spent by the idle mostly in hiking over the roads and visitingsome of the nearby villages where the other units of the regiment werequartered. Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Company, SupplyCompany, Battery C, and the Medical detachment were at Andelot, aboutfour kilos from Blancheville. The 2nd Battalion Hqrs. And E Batterywere at Cirey-les-Mareilles; A Battery was at Vignes; Battery B atMontot, and F Battery at Mareilles. The town of Andelot, built in the shape of an amphitheatre on theslope which forms the base of the hill of Monteclair, is situated onthe banks of the little river Rognon, 21 kilometers from Chaumont, seat of the Department of Haute Marne. On this hill of Monteclair, on which there was a strong-castle duringthe years 101 to 44 B.  C. , Caesar established a camp. UnderConstantine (306 A.  D. ) Andelot became the seat of a province. A Courtof Champagne fortified the position of Monteclair (440 A.  D. ). On the28th of November, 587, the treaty of Andelot was made between Gontran, King of Burgundy, and Cnideberft, King of Austrasia, who wasaccompanied by his mother, Brunehaut. In 871 A.  D. , Andelot became the seat of a county, which was broken upin the course of the tenth century, and which was a dependency of theDuke of Lorraine. From 1201 to 1253 the fortifications of Monteclairwere strengthened and enlarged, the town was beautified and surroundedby walls, which were demolished in 1279. Andelot became the seat of aprefecture of which Domremy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc, was apart. In 1356 and again in 1431 Monteclair was taken by the English. It wasreturned to France in 1434. In 1523 a German army occupied Andelot andthe castle of Monteclair for a short time. There followed famine andpestilence. Francis I, King of France (1494 to 1547) repaired thefortifications and ordered a great amount of work to be done on thefortress. During the religious wars (1337 to 1453) Andelot was takenand re-taken by the Catholics and Protestants, its church wasburned and its bells melted down. Monteclair came again under theauthority of the King in 1594. The fortress of Monteclair was dismantled in 1635, and in thefollowing year the Germans devastated the town of Andelot. Thefortress was finally destroyed in 1697. From that time until thepresent Monteclair and the towns in its vicinity have been rich insouvenirs. It was among these scenes Battery D idled the Thanksgiving day. At 5p. M. A special feed was put on in the battery mess hall in generalcelebration. The feasting was getting along nicely; everybody wasenjoying the menu of roast pig and prune pie and nuts and candy, whenit was suddenly discovered that a number of the candles used to lightthe mess hall had suddenly disappeared. The aftermath was felt forseveral days. A thorough search for the lost candles was instituted. They could not be found. An official battery order was thenpromulgated, stating that if the candles were not returned within acertain time a very heavy battery guard would be put on for theremainder of the stay in Blancheville. About a half dozen candles had disappeared. When the ultimatum wasissued about two dozen candles of all sizes and descriptions werereturned to the battery kitchen. The guard never went on. Candlescontinued to sell in Blancheville for fancy prices and the battery ingeneral suffered in its letter writing for the want of light at night. Leather jerkins were first issued the battery at Blancheville onNovember 29th, which was the signal for horses to be received. Thereceipt of horses started a long and hard battle with the mud. Tomultiply miseries mules played an important part in the life of thebattery. All told it is a long, muddy tale. On Friday, December 6th, fourteen sick horses arrived in Blanchevilleto be cared for by Battery D. The following day another consignment ofhorses arrived. The majority of the animals were afflicted with themange. All had seen active service and were badly used up. Manysuffered from neglect, the troops having but little time for theproper care of the animals while up in the front lines. Some wereminus pieces of their ears, which had been shot off in battle. Two large, open artillery stables had been erected at Blancheville bya previous contingent of troops, so Battery D had stable facilities. The constant rain, however, soon played havoc with the ground in thevicinity of the stables and it was not long after the horses werereceived that the heavy traffic in the vicinity of the stablescreated a regular sea of mud. Hip rubber boots were issued and it wasa grand battle with the mud each day. The animals had to be ledthrough the mud three times a day to the public water troughs in thevillage. Besides caring for the horses the time at Blancheville was spent inhiking, at physical exercise and in the enjoyment of various forms ofathletics. The manual of the pistol again came into its own and theguns were not neglected, as gun drill was finally returned to theschedule. At least once a week the battery hiked to Cirey les Mareilles, threekilos distant, where the only bath house was located. Thoughts of the Christmas season came to the battery at Blanchevillewhen the first Christmas boxes from the folks back home were receivedduring the second week in December. The boxes continued to arriveuntil the festal holiday. Sunday, December 15th, was payday for the soldiers in Blancheville. This particular payday was of ill omen for the battery. A number ofthe boys indulged too freely at the cafes in Chantraines, with ato-be-regretted fracas resulting. A guard of military police was puton at Chantraines following this escapade. Monday, December 16th, thirty-five additional horses were received bythe battery. Considerable time was spent in getting the harness inshape, especially the saddles, after which lessons in equitation wereagain started, also a number of battery mounted hikes inaugurated. Early in December announcement was made of a proposed horse convoy tothe Belgian border. The topic was discussed for many weeks, theproposed trip having been scheduled and cancelled several times beforea convoy finally materialized. What the one hundred volunteers forthis convoy had to contend with during the trip is a tale of its own, which must be related in terms of hardship, rain, mud, and mules. CHAPTER XIX. AN ADVENTUROUS CONVOY. What could be more pleasant or soothing to an adventurous spirit thana trip in the saddle through the scarred and devastated battle sectoralong the Lorraine border? This is what appealed to the boys ofBattery D when announcement was made at Blancheville early in Decemberthat one hundred men were wanted to accompany a horse convoy to Longwyon the Belgian border. One hundred volunteers were asked for, and itwas not long before the required number was enlisted from the militaryranks. The first convoy was to have left Blancheville on December 13th, butat the eleventh hour the trip was cancelled. Various other dates wereset. Finally, on Wednesday night, December 18th, Capt. Smith assembledthe battery in the Y.  M.  C.  A. Tent that stood near the old church, when announcement was made that the horse trip was to start on themorrow and the names of the one hundred men who were to make the trip, were called off. In high spirits the volunteers made ready for the trip. Each manpacked a set of saddle bags; made ready a driver's roll with shelterhalf and blankets. All the other individual equipment was gatheredtogether and left in the Y.  M.  C.  A. Tent, as rumor had it that theregiment was soon to move to another billeting area and the order tomove might come when the horse convoy was on the road. Thus the extraequipment was left with the remainder of the battery, on whose handsevolved the task of remaining in Blancheville and caring for thebattery horses and doing the other detail work. The schedule workedhardship both ways. There was more than enough work for those whoremained at the battery area, and those who volunteered for the convoywere not long in realizing that they had a tough job on their hands. The detail of one hundred men left Blancheville at 7:25 a. M. , Thursday, December 19th, in five auto trucks. The trucks also conveyeda saddle and equipment, also driver's roll, for each member of theparty. The auto convoy proceeded through Chaumont; then came a pleasant ridealong the Marne river, passing through the towns of Luzy, Vesaignes, Rolampont and Langres. Stop was made at the latter fortified town, where the soldiers visited the town and procured refreshments. Thetrip was continued and at 12:30 p. M. The party reached Remount No. 13. At Lux, situated about three kilometers beyond Is-sur-Tille. In fighting the mud at Blancheville the battery members thought theyhad struck the muddiest spot in France. Nothing could be muddier, theythought. But this thought was soon shattered when the volunteer convoyreached Lux. Perhaps it was due to the Remount being numbered 13, butthe mud that surrounded it is beyond adequate description. It was raining heavily when the battery arrived at Lux. Slimy mud, three feet thick in places, covered the territory of the remount. The original order was for the detail from Battery D to remain at theremount over Friday and start with the horses for the Belgian borderon Saturday morning. Arriving at the remount the battery detail washoused in a sheet-iron barrack with corrugated sheet-iron bunks. Andeverything was covered with mud. Thursday night, while the detail lingered at the remount, officialorders came changing the plan for the convoy party. Instead of takinghorses to Longwy the detail was ordered to start the following morningto return to the 311th Regiment with several hundred mules. Friday morning, December 20th, reveille was held in the rain at 5:45o'clock. Immediately after mess the auto trucks were loaded and madeready for the trip. The detail, in charge of Capt. Smith, andaccompanied by Lieutenants Yeager and Bennett, ploughed through themud to the section of the remount that housed the horses the convoywas to escort. Each member of the convoy selected a horse to saddle. The animals wereof various spirits. Many of the battery detail were recruits who didnot have the lessons in equitation at Camp Meade that the oldermembers of the battery experienced. After considerable difficulty thehorses were saddled and the convoy assembled in a large field toreceive the consignment of mules. Many of the horses had never been ridden in the saddle before, withthe result that a regular wild-west exhibition transpired on thefield. Riders were thrown from the saddle into the mud, but all theboys had their nerve with them and stuck to the horses, bringing themunder control. Lieut. Yeager was induced by the remount officers to saddle a largeand fiery stallion, but after a brave attempt on the part of Lieut. Yeager to break and ride the stallion, during which the rider wasprecipitated into a large, muddy pool and covered with mud from headto foot, change had to be made for another animal, the stallion beingleft behind when the convoy started. When all was set with the detail mounted, the remount attaches trottedout 237 mules, tied in series of three. The mules were divided among the mounted men, each man getting threemules to lead, besides having to manage the horse he was riding. Allthe mules were frisky, having remained unworked for a considerableperiod. There was great prancing around as the convoy assembled. Themules, in many cases, started to pull one way and the horse pulled theopposite. Many of the mules were tied up in various speedcombinations. Ones that were always on the run were coupled with onesthat did not know how to step lively, or else the horse of the mountedparty was either too fast or too slow for the trio of mules the driverhad to lead along. At 9:30 a. M. The convoy got started on the road. The convoy consistedof 96 mounted men leading 237 mules, the rolling kitchen drawn by fourmules, in charge of George Musial, who had the assistance of CookBurns and two K.  P. 's in preparing meals enroute. Five auto trucks, carrying the forage and picket-line equipment, formed the remainder ofthe train. Slowly the convoy proceeded over the mud-covered road leading fromLux. At noon stop was made at Fontaine-Francais, where the animalswere watered in a stream and given nose-bags. Then the rolling kitchencame along the road and hot slum and coffee was served to the horsemenstretched out along the side of the road. It was against orders to tiethe animals anywhere while on the march. Each driver had to hold hischarges at rein's length with one hand, and attempt to eat the slumwith the other hand. After a two and one-half hour lay-over the march was resumed, adistance of thirty kilometers having been set for the day. The routewas through Montigny in the afternoon and at 5:15 p. M. , under a coverof darkness the convoy reached Champlitte. Through the town the roadstretched, past a large chateau, then came a long hill, down which thehorses and mules galloped, wild with hunger and fatigue. It was a darknight and difficulty was experienced in keeping to the unknown road. In making the descent of the hill leading from Champlitte severalriders and mules almost struck the edge of the elevated road and had anarrow escape from going mounted over a precipice. It was about 6 p. M. When stop was made at the base of the hillyroad, where orders to remain for the night were issued. There were nostable accommodations, or nothing ready to receive the animals. Apicket line had to be erected in a muddy ravine. The animals had to beled to a nearby stream and watered by bucket as there was no shallowapproach to the stream. As the animals were watered and lead to thehastily thrown up picket-lines they began to bite and kick each other. A miniature stampede resulted until the several hundred nose-bags wereadjusted and hay shook out along the picket line. Then all horses andmules had to be blanketed for the night. The detail secured theblankets from the auto trucks and started the task, which tookconsiderable time and which was finally accomplished at the risk oflife and limb. A limited amount of picket line had been erected andthe mules especially were tied in very close proximity. To get betweenthem and blanket the frisky jacks was to dodge bites and hoofs in alldirections. Mud was kicked up in all directions while the animals were receivingattention. It was a tired, muddy and dirty lot of soldiers thatfinished their tasks at the picket line at 11:30 p. M. , and started tomarch up the dark hill to Champlitte; to the old chateau that was tohouse the troops for the night. It was midnight when the troops gotsomething to eat from the rolling kitchen. Then they stretched out onthe floors of the old chateau to rest for the night. Next morning was Saturday. It was decided that the convoy would remainover at Champlitte and rest for the day. There was but little rest, however, as everybody was kept busy caring for the horses and mules;watering, feeding and grooming being in order. When it came togrooming the mud was caked thick on all hides. It rained Saturday night. The guard detail at the picket line had amerry time chasing mules that broke loose and started to roam overadjacent hills. All hands were up and on the job at the picket line at 5:30 a. M. , Sunday morning, December 22nd. It was 8:30 o'clock before all sectionswere watered and fed, the picket lines packed in the trucks and thingsmade ready to start. With the sections lined up on the road ready tostart, count of the mules was taken and it was discovered that fivewere missing. An hour's wait resulted until all mules were present andaccounted for. The drive continued through the rain, until 11:30 p. M. , when the townof Pierrefitte was reached. Detailed work in throwing up a picketline in the yard of an old chateau and duties equally as strenuous andsimilar to the first night's stop at Champlitte, were in order untilall the animals were cared for. Bean soup was served for the batterymess and the night spent in the chateau. During the night the rain turned into a sleet storm, attended by astrong wind. The wind and the sleet caused a stampede at the picketline. Morning found the picket lines completely demolished, and horsesand mules roamed all over the lot. They were tied in all shapes andforms, the halter shanks being twisted in knots galore. The battery men were up and doing at 5:15 Monday morning. It was 10 a. M. Before all the animals were captured and tied up properly. Thefirst section got started on the march shortly after 10 o'clock. Sleet, rain and snow continued to fall during the day. Through largeexpanses of open road, the convoy journeyed. The sleet drove in thefaces of the mules, causing them to gallop at top speed. The ridershad their strength severely tried and tested in keeping the situationunder control. Stop was made about 3 kilos from the town of Bourbonne where theanimals were watered at a stream. The convoy entered Bourbonne at 3:30p. M. And found to its great joy that the town housed an American armyveterinarian section and had stable accommodations. The stablefacilities lightened the work of the convoy and it was 5 o'clock whenthe men went to the town to seek quarters for the night. The largeauditorium of the American Y.  M.  C.  A. Had been scheduled as the placeof abode for the night. When the outfit applied for admission aconflict of dates was brought to light. It took great persuasiveforce, bordering close unto mob rule, before the officious officer incharge of the Y.  M.  C.  A. Was induced to allow the tired and muddyparty to break in upon the quietude of the few sections of troopsoccupying part of the Y.  M.  C.  A. For the night. Before the convoy resumed the journey on Tuesday morning, December24th, army veterinarians examined all animals in the convoy party. Many loose shoes had to be fixed by the blacksmiths, while twenty-twoof the horses showed symptoms of lameness else had developed soresthat barred them from continuing the journey. The veterinarian sectionalso took over a number of the sound horses and mules. The first sections got started from Bourbonne at 9 a. M. Twenty-six ofthe men, under Capt. Smith, were detailed to take the lame horses to anearby remount and exchange them for sound animals. It was 11:30when the detail of twenty-six left Bourbonne with the thought ofovertaking the remainder of the convoy. The main convoy rode hard all day. It was the day before Christmas andit was raining. Stop was made for the night at Clefmont, where stableaccommodations were secured for the horses, while the mules had to bepicketed. The detail of twenty-six that was following had difficulty in findingthe road the convoy had taken. It was dark when Clefmont was reached. The main detail had sent out a guard with a lantern to locate Capt. Smith and his detail, but the guard got on the wrong road; leaving thedetail with Capt. Smith passing out Clefmont in the blackness of thenight. By a stroke of luck, however, inquiries from French peasantsfinally steered the lost detail on the road where the advance guardwith the lantern was located. After caring for the horses the convoy spent Christmas eve in an old, dirty, combination barn and dwelling. Reclining on bunches of livestraw that was found in the building, the soldiers dreamt of Christmaseve back home, wishing they were there, instead of where they were. Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25th, dawned clear and cold. Clefmont was left behind at 9 a. M. , when the soldiers determined todrive hard so that the trip could be terminated by noon. The route laythrough Longchamp. As the morning wore on a snow storm developed. Through the snow the riders pressed on, until 1 p. M. , whenCirey-les-Mareilles was reached. Orders were to leave the majority ofthe animals at Cirey. A detail of Battery E men were on hand to meetthe convoy and assist in caring for the animals at that point. Relieved of their charges, the members of Battery D secured autotrucks to take them to Blancheville. It was a relief to get washed andcleaned up, as there was very little washing and shaving done duringthe five days on the road. It was a pleasure, also, to be back at theold stamping ground. And, to think it was Christmas. A few peacefulhours during the afternoon and evening were enjoyed by the convoydetail. A large amount of mail had accumulated while the men were onthe road. It was Christmas mail, in which cheering words were receivedfrom the home folks. Christmas boxes despatched through the Red Crosscame into their own. It was a rejuvenated bunch that partook ofChristmas dinner in the battery's old mess hall at Blancheville at 5o'clock that night. [Illustration: BATTERY D ON THE ROADPassing Through a French Village. ] [Illustration: ABOARD THE EDW. LUCKENBACHBattery D Homeward Bound. ] [Illustration: AT BUSH TERMINAL, BROOKLYNHome. At Last. ] CHAPTER XX. ON THE ROAD TO BENOITE VAUX. During the month of January it was reported in official circles thatthe 154th Artillery Brigade was to accompany the 79th Division intoGermany as a unit of the Army of Occupation. The artillerymen wereenthused with the prospects of joining their division and getting inthe midst of the big scenery. The movement, however, nevermaterialized. The outfit was forced to bear a disappointment like untothe shattering of expectations of getting in on the finale of thefighting. As has been recorded, as early as October, 1918, the instructors haddecided that the 311th artillery was in a position to take up activefront-line duties. Several weeks previous the infantry and machine-gunregiments of the 79th Division had entered the fight and made theirfamous attack on Montfaucon, one of the most difficult positions totake in the Argonne sector. Twenty-seventh Division artillery hadfurnished the support at Montfaucon. The 79th Division artillerymenwere eager to replace them and aid in the fighting of the divisionalong the Meuse river. After the holiday season Battery D spent its time in Blancheville withmounted hikes forming the mainstay of the schedule. Each day theoutfit looked for orders to join the division and proceed to Germanterritory. The horses and mules brought to the regiment by the convoy, weredistributed to the various batteries. Driver squads were immediatelyreorganized and great preparation attended all the hikes. The latter part of January an official order was issued citing theindividual members of Battery D as entitled to wear a gold servicechevron, an indication of six months service on foreign soil. With theaward of the gold stripe came the selection of the Lorraine Cross asthe divisional insignia and the granting of leaves of absence to visitthe beauty spots of France, with Paris included in the schedule as apossible three-day leave center. The first men left the battery on afourteen day leave, at Blancheville. A waiting list was establishedand passes were issued in order of application. During the remainderof the battery's stay in France names were on the leave list. The famous Mediterranean Riviera was the favorite leave center, although St. Malo and Grenoble were cited in official divisionorders. Many of the members of Battery D got the opportunity tospend a vacation in the Southern part of France, where the land issheltered by the mountains from the North winds, and lit and warmed bya resplendent sun in a sky, the azure of which is seldom dulled byclouds. Nice, Monaco with its Monte Carlo and a trip across theItalian border near Menton, were included in the majority of the leaveitineraries. While en route to the Southern clime it was customary forthe soldier on leave to mistake trains; get on the wrong train andfind himself landed in the City of Paris. This, in most cases, was theonly opportunity the majority had of seeing the French metropolis, although a number of three-day leaves to the capital city were grantedbattery men. Leave privileges in the A.  E.  F. Kept the French railroads busy. Thedemand for furloughs became so popular that troop specials to theleave centers came into being and opportunity of individual travel wascurtailed. Scores, however, took advantage of the troop specials tothe land of vacation ease. While Battery D was in Blancheville Lieut. Hugh M. Clarke wastransferred to the Supply Company of the regiment and Lieutenant LeoC. Julian, of Lakeland, Fla. , was attached to the battery. The horses were the main care of the battery. Forage was scarce, whichcaused the animals to become mean-tempered as they gnawed at thehay-racks and discovered that about one pound of hay had to do eachhorse a day while the forage scarcity lasted. Many of the battery members received severe kicks while attending tostable duties. The most serious injury through a kick was inflictedupon Private Frederick M. Bowen, of E. Rutherford, N.  J. , who was sentto the Base Hospital at Rimaucourt with injuries that separated himfrom the outfit and sent him home as a casualty. When the hikes became a daily occurrence at Blancheville stable dutieswere set for the entire battery to share in. Watering and feeding wasdone immediately after reveille was dismissed each morning. On January 3rd the battery was ordered to pack everything to take tothe road. The rolling kitchen accompanied the battery caravan thatleft Blancheville to return again to the village after a 7 kilometerhike. A similar hike was held the day following, when it was announcedthe regiment was to move forward and join the division for the tripinto occupation territory. The same day a detail of five men werewere dispatched to the new billeting area to make ready the newbattery location. It was decided that the battery would proceed to the new area bytaking to the road in march-order. The battery was ordered to be readyto move by January 9th. On January 8th another hike with everything packed was accomplished, the outfit getting back to Blancheville at 12:30 p. M. All thematériel was left out along the road leading from the village thatnight, so all that was needed for an early start the following morningwas for the horses to be hitched to the guns, caissons andsupply-wagons. The battery left Blancheville at 7:30 a. M. , Thursday, January 9th, proceeding to Andelot where the entire regiment assembled on the roadfor the journey. A detail of men were left at Blancheville to cleanup;overtaking the outfit later on single mount. After leaving Andelot the route was through Vignes and Busson; haltfor noon-mess was made at the latter place. A distance of 22kilometers was set for the day's journey, terminating at the villageof Epizon, which was reached at 3:30 p. M. The regiment parked itsmatériel and established its picket line in a large grain field, thenhad to wait for two hours until the supply train brought up theforage. The battery men found sleeping quarters for the night in thebarns and sheds of the village. The outfit was astir at 4:45 o'clock the next morning and was movingon the road at 8:30 a. M. Stop was made at noon at Soulaincourt, wherethe 311th passed the 211th motorized French artillery regiment, goingin the opposite direction along the narrow road. In the afternoon theregiment passed through the town of Montiers and went into park forthe night at 6 p. M. , at Morley. The village furnished an abundance ofhaylofts for the artillerymen to crawl into the straw for the night. Saturday, January 11th, found the regiment ready to resume the journeyat 7:15 a. M. The trip continued through Le Bouchon, Serenier andStainville, the latter place being the noon-mess stopover junction. Here the train of horses were watered by bucket. During the afternoonBazincourt, Haironville, and Bullon were invaded in order. The horseswere watered in the community watering trough in the village ofCombles at 3:30 p. M. , after which the regiment proceeded to Veel andstopped for the night. It rained heavy during the night, but theoutfit was fortunate in locating a number of army barracks in the villagethat furnished a night's shelter. Sunday, January 12th, it was raining when the troops answered reveilleat 5 o'clock. The rain turned into snow an hour later when theregiment was ready to resume the journey. Under a canopy of snow thetroops passed through the city of Bar Le Duc. After leaving Naives inthe distance, stop was made at noon at Le Petit Rumont. The cannoneers were forced to walk a great part of the distance. Theywere also compelled to wear their field shoes on the march instead ofthe rubber boots which the drivers wore. They trudged along the slushyroad with wet feet, while it grew colder and more miserable. It waswelcome relief when camp was ordered for the night at Violette and thetroops assigned to old hospital barracks for the night. A farming community, named Benoite Vaux, in the Department of Meuse, about twenty-five kilometers from the celebrated American battlesector of Saint Mihiel, was selected as the new billeting district forthe regiment. Benoite Vaux was reached at noon on Monday, January13th, after the regiment had been on the road for the day since 8 a. M. , passing through Belrain, Pierrefitte and Courouve. Benoite Vaux was a quiet hamlet of a score of peasant homes and an oldstone church. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in and about the town;Battery D was assigned to barracks that formerly were used as a Frencharmy hospital. The 1st Battalion was scattered here and there on thehills and in the woods outside the village. CHAPTER XXI. WAR ORPHANS AND HORSE SHOWS. Almost every outfit of the A.  E.  F. , in France, adopted a mascot--areal, live mascot, to be sure; not out of mere pet fancy, but thenatural outcrop of the American spirit of benevolence. Through theBureau of War Orphans of the American Red Cross, units of the A.  E.  F. Made contributions to the Adoption Fund for French War Orphans. Theaid in each case was administered by the Red Cross to the welfare ofan orphan. The members of Battery D adopted little four-year-old Denise Ferronduring the month of February, 1919, as their mascot, and, byadditional contributions a ward was selected in memory of FirstSergeant James J. Farrell. The second ward was three-year-old GeorgesLemoine, who was much in need of assistance. Denise Ferron, with brown eyes and brown hair, was born April 25, 1914, the daughter of Madame Vve Ferron, of Fericy, Seine et Marne, France. Mr. And Mrs. Ferron had just established a butcher shop when war cameon. The father was then mobilized at the first call. He went to thefront where he was wounded. In 1916 at Verdun, he held the Croix deGuerre and was mortally wounded in April, 1918. When he joined his regiment his wife was left with no resources, having given all of their earnings for the purchase of the butchershop. The difficulty to find meat and some one to help her, forced herto give up her business. She had another child, Simonne, who was born July 8, 1917. Thisblonde, grey eyed brother of Denise was cared for by another A.  E.  F. Unit. As her children were too small, Mme. Ferron was not able to takeany work and her only means of support was a military allocationamounting to 105 francs monthly. Although his body rests in the American military cemetery at LaCourtine, France, the memory of James J. Farrell is revered in unisonby all who knew him and the family of Vve Memoine, Ville Billy, St. Lunaire, Ille et Vilaine, France, who have come to know him in spiritsince the youngest son, Georges, was adopted. Georges Lemoine was bornFebruary 1, 1915. He had five other brothers and sisters, viz; Pierre, Louis, Marie, Marcelle and Anna, the oldest 15 and the youngest 6years. These children were in a truly lamentable plight. Their father wasa farmer but on such a small scale that what he got from his smallpiece of land was insufficient for the needs of his family. He wasconscripted but sent back because he was the father of six children. He had never been strong, and during the prolonged stay at the fronttuberculosis developed, from which he died on May 18, 1917. Unfortunately his wife contracted this terrible illness. But beforeshe realized her plight she had taken over a neighboring farm, for shewas anxious to shoulder her burden as well as possible. This overtaxedher strength and hastened her decline. These are passing incidents of the period the battery spent in BenoiteVaux. Other incidents of import to the battery were the erection ofstables and the conduct of horse shows. When the outfit arrived at Benoite Vaux there were stableaccommodations for some of the batteries encamped out in the woods butBattery D, stationed in the village, was without accommodation for thehorses. For the first few weeks of the stay the horses were kept outin the open on picket lines. The weather and the mud became verysevere and temporary stables were secured in a wooded section nearwhere Battery C was stationed. These stables were about two kilometersfrom the battery billets. While the horses were stabled there thesoldiers had to hike the two kilometers three times a day and drivethe horses to the watering troughs in the center of the village. Orders were soon issued for the battery to build stables in thewoodland on the opposite side of the road from the battery quarters. The ground selected as the site was very muddy. The first duty, therefore, was the opening of a stone quarry and the hauling of manyloads of cracked stone to form the base of the new stable. Between thework of building the stables and preparing for the horse shows, thetime of the troops at Benoite Vaux was well occupied. On February 21st, the 2nd Battalion of the 311th conducted a HorseShow to pick entries for the regimental Horse Show which wasannounced. In this show Battery D carried off a good share of theribbons. John E. Jones, of Hazleton, Penna. , was awarded the blueribbon and a cash donation of francs, as first prize winner forindividual mounts. Concetti Imbesi, of Scranton, Penna. , captured thesecond place in this event and was awarded the red ribbon. Imbesi wasa prize winner in the hurdling, taking the yellow ribbon. For the entry of 75 mm. Gun and caisson with personnel, Battery Dtook second and third places. The 2nd section of D took the red ribbonand the 1st section received the yellow decoration. Each battery hadsix mounted sections in this event. Battery F took first in thisevent. The battalion, as well as the regimental show, was held on a speciallyconstructed course between Benoite Vaux and Issoncourt. In the regimental show, which took place on Monday, February 24th, John E. Jones was adorned with the blue ribbon for guidon mounts. Jones also finished third in the regimental hurdles, in which eventImbesi also cantered from the track with the blue ribbon on hisbridle. The officers of Battery D added their share to the trophies of theday. First Lieutenant C.  D. Bailey, in the officers' single mounts andhurdles, captured second place in both events. The 2nd section of 75mm. Gun and caisson, the Battery D winner in the battalion show, wasruled out of the regimental decision. Battery A took first in thisevent, while the 1st section of Battery D got the yellow ribbon. The Divisional Show was held at Pierrefitte on Thursday, February27th. The best Battery D could do in the divisional competition was agood record of two third places with the yellow ribbons. The show wasconducted in inclement weather, a combination of rain, hail and snowworrying many of the high-spirited chevaux as they walked, trotted andcantered over the course. Jones was judged third for guidon mount andCapt. A.  L. Smith got third for officer's saddle horse. The official standing of the organizations in the regimental show wasas follows: Headquarters Company 27 Battery D 18 Battery B 18 Battery F 13 Supply Company 10 Battery E 7 Battery A 5 Battery C 5 Medical Detachment 0 The points scored at the Divisional Show were: 311th Field Artillery 38 310th Field Artillery 29 315th Infantry 25 313th Infantry 15 304th Signal Battalion 10 304th Sanitary Train 8 154th F.  A. Brigade Hqrs. 6 Headquarters Troop 6 314th Infantry 6 79th Military Police Company 5 311th Machine-Gun Battalion 5 316th Infantry 3 312th Machine-Gun Battalion 3 158th Infantry Brigade Headquarters 3 304th Ammunition Train S.  O.  L. The Ninth Army Corps held a Horse Show at Lerouville, March 21, 1919, with the 79th, the 88th and the 9th Army Corps Detachment, competing. Honors were awarded as follows: 79th Division 137 points 88th Division 87 points 9th Corps Det. 26 points At this show Jones, of Battery D, won third prize in the quarter milerace. The horse shows entailed a large amount of work. The soldiers werekept busy shining harness, grooming horses and painting matériel. Theroad between Benoite Vaux and Issoncourt, where the battalion andregimental shows were held, was a stretch of mud. It was a seriousproposition to get the horses to the show-course without having themlook as if they had taken a mud bath. In the regimental show Arthur H. Jones, familiarly known to thebattery members as "Boundbrook, " the name of the New Jersey town heclaims as home, had entered the battery water cart in the show. Thewater cart was one of the most valuable of battery vehicles. While atBenoite Vaux all the water for drinking and cooking purposes had to behauled to the battery kitchen from a well about a kilometer distant. "Boundbrook" Jones had charge of the cart, driving to the well forwater several times each day. "Boundbrook" also prided himself ashaving the best horse of any of the water carts in the regiment. Whenit came time for the regimental horse show Jones was certain thathis charge would carry off first prize in the water cart entry. To the great chagrin of "Boundbrook" Battery D's cart was disqualifiedby the judges because it did not have the proper spigots attached tothe water tank. Jones drove back to Benoite Vaux in a dejected mood. Meeting Lieut. Bailey he exclaimed: "Say, Lieutenant, I thought thiswas a horse show and not a plumbing show. " During the stay in Benoite Vaux the Battery members took advantage ofevery opportunity afforded to visit battle sectors. St. Mihiel wasvisited by many, while Verdun, with its underground city, and thecountry in that vicinity was also explored to great extent. Thesoldiers were granted mounted passes at times, which entitled them tosaddle battery horses to go on a day's sight-seeing trip. During the latter part of February Capt. Smith was ordered to Paris ontemporary duty in the Inspector General's Department. Lieut. Yeagerand Lieut. Julian were also detached from the battery at Benoite Vaux. Lieut. Yeager gained admission to an English University, while Lieut. Julian was admitted to a French institution under the A.  E.  F. Educational plans. Capt. Perry E. Hall, of Springfield, N.  J. , was assigned to thecommand of D Battery when Capt. Smith was ordered to Paris. FirstLieut. Frank J. Hamilton, who had been associated with the battery atCamp Meade, was reassigned to the organization from HeadquartersCompany of the regiment, during the early part of March, 1919. Private Stuart E. Prutzman, of Palmerton, Penna. , left the outfit atBenoite Vaux to attend a French university. Private William E. Bachman, of Hazleton, Penna. , was a successful applicant to theA.  E.  F. University that was established at Beaune. The daily sick call of the battery was exceptionally large at BenoiteVaux. Colds and cooties played havoc with the boys for several weeks. Another passing incident connected with the life at Benoite Vaux wasthe Divisional Maneuvres that were planned with great enthusiasm butwhich materialized rather humorously. The battery in general did notenjoy this drama. The maneuvres were conducted with guidon-bearersrepresenting the batteries for the benefit of the Field Officers, whoconsumed much paper and speech in issuing a multitude of orders toguide the movements of the guidon-bearers as the latter representedthe entire regiment, assuming various strategic formations on a wellplanned field of bloodless battle. Lieut. Yeager, before being detached from the battery, and Cpl. Thomas J. Brennan, of Pottsville, Penna. , were candidates for thedivisional foot ball team that played at Souilly with a number ofother divisional elevens. Philip J. Cusick, of Parsons, Penna. , thebattery's favorite pianist, was selected to make a tour with theregimental minstrel show that was put on to tour the circuit ofA.  E.  F. Playhouses. Cusick was recalled to the battery the latterpart of February when he received notice of his early discharge fromthe army on account of the death of his father. The sickness that laid its hand heavily on the men of the battery atBenoite Vaux also affected the horses. The rain that fell almostdaily, kept the mud knee-deep and the roads slushy. The well membersof the battery toiled hard to complete the stables and save the horsesfrom cruel exposure to the weather. The stables were completed inFebruary and were in use long enough for an order to be issued toclean them out by way of demonstration, then the battery was orderedto proceed to another billeting district. It was announced about thistime that the 311th regiment was to sail for home in June. The siege of sickness claimed in death two of Battery D's men, who hadbeen admitted to the base hospital at Commercy. Private Patrick J. Dooling, of Metuchen, N.  J. , died on March 6, 1919, with Broncho-pneumonia. He was buried in the Post Cemetery atCommercy. Corporal Guy W. Mortimer, of Pottsville, Penna. , died on March 8th andwas buried in the same cemetery as Private Dooling. In March regimental post schools were opened near Souilly. A number ofBattery D men were admitted to the various courses. The boys had beenat school for only one week when they were ordered back to the outfit, which was then moving towards Commercy. [Illustration: SERVING MESS TO BATTERY D ALONG THE ROADServing Mess Along the Road While on a Move from Benoite Vaux toLerouville, France. Reproduced from Official Photo of the SignalCorps. U.  S.  A. ] [Illustration: BATTERY D ON THE ROAD IN FRANCEShowing Battery D Near Courouve, France. Reproduced fromOfficial Photo of the Signal Corps. U.  S.  A. ] CHAPTER XXII. HOMEWARD BOUND. When the battery left Benoite Vaux the soldiers knew they had startedon the first lap of their "homeward bound" trip. Weeks of hard workwere yet before the battery, but the thought of getting home in June, or possibly earlier, as rumor had it that the A.  E.  F. Sailingschedules were operating several weeks ahead of time, kept up thespirit of the artillerymen. The trip from Blancheville was made by road. A short journey on March19th found Battery D in Boncourt, a small town near Commercy. Theother batteries of the regiment moved to nearby towns. On March 31st, Lerouville, Pont sur Meuse and Boncourt held the regiment betweenthem. On April 1st Battery D was ordered to make another trip overland. Thetrip required three days. The first night's stop was made at Ligny enBarcis, a large town where the entire regiment found accommodation andthe boys enjoyed themselves for the night. The second night theregiment had to scatter for billeting at Bure, Echenay, Saudron, andGuillaume. Battery D was quartered in Bure. The journey was southward in the direction of Andelot. It was one tripthe soldiers enjoyed. It didn't rain during the three days enroute. The end of the third day found the battery in Cirey les Mareilles, thetown near Blancheville in which district the outfit was previouslybilleted. Cirey les Mareilles housed E Battery when D was atBlancheville. When the regiment returned to the old stamping groundBatteries D and E were billeted at Cirey. The Supply Company of theregiment was billeted in Blancheville during this stay. RegimentalHeadquarters Company and Battery A established themselves atBriancourt, Battery F at Mareilles, Battery B at Rochfort, and BatteryC at Chantraines. While at Boncourt the matériel of the regiment was inspected by anordnance officer and passed inspection. Before the matériel was to befinally turned in, however, a big review before General John J. Pershing, Commander in Chief of the A.  E.  F. , was to take place. Battery D left Cirey les Mareilles at noon, Friday, April 11th, proceeding to and arriving on the reviewing field at Orquenaux at 4:30p. M. It was 8:30 o'clock before the horses were cared for and abattery of dog tents erected on the field, where the soldiers spentthe night. It did not rain during the night, but the followingday, when the review was being staged, it rained in torrents. The review started at 10:30 a. M. , Saturday, April 12, 1919. First theoutfit stood inspection mounted but not moving. Then the divisionalmarch in front of the reviewing stand started. It was a grand militarysight to see an entire army division together on one field, at onetime, with all equipment. It was late in the afternoon when the reviewended by which time all the soldiers were thoroughly soaked by therain. It was 4 o'clock when Battery D left the reviewing ground, andhastened on its way to Andelot. The entire distance was covered atwhat was almost a steady trot. Andelot was reached at 7 p. M. It was awet and tired battery, but the rain and fatigue were soon forgottenwhen orders were issued for all matériel to be turned in at Andelot, to be delivered to the railhead at Rimaucourt. Despite the fact thateverybody was drenched to the skin, also cold and miserable, happysmiles lit the faces of all when farewell was bid the guns andcaissons. The soldiers, in a happy mood, walked from Andelot to Cireyles Mareilles, singing and whistling. During the following week the horses and practically all the equipmentwas turned in and preparations made for the trip to the embarkationport. Everything in the line of equipment that was not needed, wassalvaged. On Monday, April 7th, another attempt was made by the regimentalofficers to establish a post school near Neuf Chateau. A number ofBattery D men were sent to attend the school. The school, however, wasbroken up the first day of its existence, an official order returningthe scholars to their respective commands. Orders to detrain for anembarkation center were momentarily expected. On Saturday, April 19th, the regiment entrained at Rimaucourt, boundfor the port of St. Nazaire, which was to be the exit to the land ofhome. The trip was made by box car, the route being through Bologne, Chaumont, Langres, south of Nevers, through Angers and Nantes. BatteryD continued its journey until Camp Montoir, eight kilometers from theport, was reached at 4:45 p. M. , April 21st. Sergeant Koenig and Corporal Shafer were the busiest men of thebattery during the stay at Camp Montoir. Yards and yards of paper workhad to be completed before the outfit was finally cleared and ready towalk up the gang plank. The battery office force worked day andnight and established a new record in getting a battery sailing listo. K'd. The stay at Montoir was pleasant despite the fact that physicalinspections were endured in great number and all soldiers and clothinghad to go through a thorough process of cootiizing. The camp was wellequipped with recreational centers where the soldiers enjoyed theiridle hours. Various detail work was assigned the battery while at Montoir. Detailsassisted in the erection of a new theatre on the camp grounds. Drilland physical exercise periods were in order when examinations andinspections lulled. After passing in a brigade review before BrigadierGeneral Andrew Hero, on Friday, May 9th, the outfit was declared readyto board the next ship that docked at the port of St. Nazaire. OnMonday, May 12th, the boys changed what francs they had left, intoUnited States currency. Then they were ready to say good-bye toFrance. Reveille sounded at 4 a. M. , on Wednesday, May 14th. Nobody slept inthat morning. Rolls were made in short order and the battery areapoliced-up. At 6 a. M. The regiment left Camp Montoir on an eightkilometer hike to St. Nazaire, which port was reached at 8:30 a. M. The U.  S.  S. Edward Luckenbach was lying at anchor in the basin at St. Nazaire. The vessel had been coaled and supplied for the return toAmerican shores. In the morning of May 14th the Edward Luckenbachwaited for its troop passengers before setting sail. After the soldiers waited on the pier for some time the hugegang-planks were extended and the regiment started its march to thedecks of the ship. The gang-planks were lifted at 11 a. M. The shipwas loosened from its moorings and slowly piloted through thecongested basin. Slowly the transport passed the draw bridge, throughthe locks and out into the wide expanse of bay. It was 2:10 p. M. Whenopen water course was reached. The U.  S.  S. Edward Luckenbach carried 29 officers and 2, 247 enlistedmen, including 14 officers and 1, 338 men of the 311th Field Artillery:8 officers and 547 men of the 314th Machine Gun Battalion, and threecasual companies. Capt. Perry Hall was the only Battery D officer able to findaccommodation on the battery's transport. All the other officers hadto wait for other transportation. Capt. A.  L. Smith rejoined thethe regiment at St. Nazaire and was assigned as regimental adjutant. He accompanied the troops on the Edward Luckenbach. Late in the afternoon on the day of set-sailing the vessel was stoppedto allow the pilot to be taken off into a sail boat. Mine sweeperswere also let down on both sides the vessel. Without convoy and withfreedom of light at night the transport pushed its way through thewaves that formerly were in the danger zone. The mine sweeperscontinued to comb the waves for any stray mine missiles that by chancemight have still floated from war operations. No difficulty was encountered, however, and the danger zone oncepassed, the trip continued at an average rate of 9 knots an hour. TheEdward Luckenbach was a 6100 ton cargo vessel converted into atransport for the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. It was mannedby an American naval crew. The vessel was an oil burner and troublewas experienced with the engines, whereby the speed of the vessel wasretarded. It was feared at times that the engines would give outbefore port was reached. Slow, but sure the troops were brought tofriendly shores. It might be noted in passing that on the next trip made by the EdwardLuckenbach as a transport, the vessel became crippled through thebreaking of her port shaft and her main journal and had to be towedfor 600 miles into the harbor at South Boston, Mass. Outside of the monotony, the trip was an uneventful one. The first twodays were attended with fine weather and calm sea, but the third day arain and wind storm developed. Bunks, down in the hatch, collapsed andthings in general were topsy turvy all night. Sea sickness wasrampant. It was a case of six meals a day for the next three or fourturns of the clock--three down and three up. The high sea gales blew for several days in succession. Mess line wasthe only formation of the day while K.  P. 's and Hatch cleanup were theonly details furnished. After thirteen days on the water, land was sighted late in theafternoon of Tuesday, May 27th. It was a welcome sight to the soldiersto see New York's famous sky-line in the distance. A mist hung overthe harbor and it was 5 p. M. When the outline of the Statue ofLiberty became plainly discernible. As the Edward Luckenbach waspiloted through the roadway of commerce that thronged the harbor, theU.  S.  S. Leviathan steamed majestically seaward, carrying a cargo ofsoldiers to France to relieve members of the Army of Occupation. Following the triumphal entry into New York harbor, the vesselcast another anchor and remained undocked for the night. Thus the boysspent one night within the beam of Miss Liberty, whose drawing powerhad been distinct in memory for many a weary month in France. A big welcome had been planned for the soldiers on the EdwardLuckenbach. One of the police patrol tugs, bearing the sign: "TheMayor's Reception Committee, " came out to meet the transport. Theriver tug had as passengers a band, besides many friends and relativesof soldiers aboard the transport. A noisy welcome home was sounded asthe patrol boat encircled the steamer several times. Cheers, and tears also, greeted the 311th boys when the HermanCaswell, a water front yacht, that had been chartered by three hundredexcursionists from the Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton districtsof Pennsylvania, encircled the Edward Luckenbach, with St. Ann's Bandof Freeland, Penna. , on board, playing "Home, Sweet Home. " The three hundred excursionists, who had journeyed from the Anthracitefields of Pennsylvania to welcome the 311th boys, had a difficult timeto locate the Edward Luckenbach. At 6 o'clock that night they sailedout to find the vessel, reported as advancing past Ambrose Channel. They traversed the entire waterfront, both on the North and East Riversides, before the hospital ship Comfort located the transport byradio, up the Hudson. The excursion delegates stayed near thetransport until dark. It was with rejuvenated spirits that the soldiers spent their lastnight on board the transport, lying in New York harbor. On Wednesdaymorning, May 28th, the troops debarked at Pier 6, Bush Terminal, Brooklyn. Only a few of the friends and relatives got to see thesoldier boys at the terminal. While the soldiers lingered at theterminal, partaking of refreshments furnished by the Red Cross and thewelfare associations, the crowds beat the ferry boat that carried thesoldiers to Jersey City and formed two lines through which the boyspassed to entrain for Camp Dix, N.  J. Plans were under way to hold a Seventy-Ninth Division parade inPhiladelphia, Penna. , but the boys voiced protests against being heldin camp, with the result that the work of putting the outfit throughthe process of sterilization and cootiization was expedited. After going through the "delouser" at Camp Dix, Battery D was moved toanother section of barracks, near the discharge center. Clericaldetails were sent to the discharge center, known as the "madhouse, "each day, to assist in getting out the paper work for officialdischarge of the outfits scheduled for muster out before Battery D. Battery D was officially discharged from the United States ArmyService on May 30th, 1919, when all its members were assigned tovarious discharge units. On May 30th the soldiers whose homes were inWestern States, were detached from the battery to be sent to Westerncamps for discharge. Those who were scheduled to remain at Dix to receive their dischargepapers, their pay and the $60 bonus, idled about the camp untilWednesday, June 4th, when they were called to the discharge center tobe paid off. It required a long wait before the members of the casualdetachments that once formed Battery D were admitted to the CentralRecords office. The soldiers "beat it" from camp as soon as they had the coveteddischarge certificates. The outfit separated in driblets during theday. The first ones called got clear of military service in themorning, while others were not called until late that afternoon. By nightfall of June 4th, 1919, however, Battery D members, for themain part, were headed for HOME, to take up the thread of civilianlife where they had severed it months before when they answered thecall of selective service. THE LORRAINE CROSS [Illustration] THE 79th DIVISION INSIGNIA CHAPTER XXIII. THE CROSS OF LORRAINE Its Origin and Its Significance. (Extracts from a Document) Written from data furnished by E.  F. HENRI VIARD B.  A. Paris University Late London Correspondent of "Le Journal"Sometime Technical Translator to the Ordnance Department A.  E.  F. The Lorraine Cross, official insignia of the Seventy-Ninth Division, United States Army, was adopted shortly after the armistice wassigned. Despite the fact that the Seventy-Ninth Division Artillery did notshare in the fighting with the rest of the division, the artillerymenwere accorded the privilege of wearing the emblem. In all its war operations, the Seventy-Ninth Division faced the enemyin Lorraine, the province which the United States was pledged to winback for France. Victory, in the face of stubborn opposition, crowned the efforts ofthe Seventy-Ninth Division. It was only appropriate, therefore, thatthe division should select as its emblem the ancient symbol ofvictory, The Lorraine Cross. The divisional insignia was worn on the left sleeve of the uniformblouse at the shoulder. THE CROSS OF LORRAINE. A national emblem of the independent Duchy of Lorraine for centuries, and even now a distinctive cognizance of the Border Province ofFrance, the double traverse cross, known as the Cross of Lorraine, forms part of the armorial bearings of no less than 163 noblefamilies. And several military units engaged in the world war adoptedthe cross as an emblem. These units include, besides the LorraineDetachment of the French Army, the Seventy-Ninth Division. Before its adoption as an emblem by the reigning house of Lorraine, the double traverse cross had a long and interesting history. Important in the history of the development of the shape of the Crosswith its two beams, the design being Byzantine and emblematic of thetriumph of Christ over Death, are ancient double traverse crosses, each containing fragments of the Real Cross of the Crucifixion. Theyare preserved in different sections of France. The double traverse of the Cross of Lorraine comes from thesubstitution, for the Titulus, or inscription originally used to markthe Cross upon which Christ was crucified, of a plain horizontal arm. The origin of the double traverse cross is Eastern, and, students ofthe subject point out, it undoubtedly represents the JerusalemCross--the True Cross--with its main horizontal beam and the Titulus, represented by a plain beam in the Cross of Lorraine. Reliquaries containing parts of the Red Cross upon which the Saviorwas crucified, including the reliquaries in Poitiers and Limoges, aredouble traverse in form. On an enamelled plate in the Treasury of GrazCathedral, Hungary, the figure of Saint Helena, credited with therecovery of the True Cross, is represented draped in a dress which isemblazoned with a double traverse cross. The double traverse cross came to have its association with Lorrainein 1477 after Rene II, reigning head of the Duchy of Lorraine, haddefeated Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, at the Battle of Nancy. Rene was of the house of Anjou and the emblem had been known as theCross of Anjou to earlier members of the house. Succession to the Duchy of Lorraine came to Rene II through the femaleline. His mother was Yolande of Anjou, daughter of Rene I. Through hisfather, Ferri of Vaudemont, Rene claimed descent from the Ancientdynasty of the Dukes of Lorraine, who traced their history to Gerardof Alsace, and who had ruled the Duchy uninterruptedly for almost fourcenturies. At the time of the accession of Rene II, the neighboring Duchy ofBurgundy was ruled by Charles the Bold, who made a reputation as ageneral and warrior. In the forwarding of his ambition for greaterterritory and more widespread authority, he had roused the enmity ofLorrainers. In 1476, following the accession of Rene II, the Duke ofBurgundy laid siege to Nancy and took the city. Rene went abroad to hire troops, and, returning in the early days of1477 with considerable forces, especially Italian and Swissmercenaries, gave battle to Charles within sight of Nancy, whosesoldier citizens sallied forth to his help. Despite their assistance, Rene might have lost the fight had it not been for Campo Basso, anItalian condettieri in the service of Charles the Bold, who, havingsome grudge against the latter and being bribed by the other side, went over to the Lorrainers at the critical moment. The Burgundians were cut to pieces. Charles the Bold, in trying tobreak away, was slain by a Lorraine officer who did not recognize himand who committed suicide when, the body of the famous Duke havingbeen identified a couple of days later from an old scar behind theear, he realized that it was he who had killed "so great a Prince. " The Battle of Nancy was not only the greatest event in the History ofLorraine, but one of the most momentous in the History of France, andeven of Europe. If Burgundy alone was defeated, three partiesbenefitted by the victory, namely; Switzerland, for whom it meantfinal acquisition of independence; the King of France, and the Duke ofLorraine. The disappearance of Charles the Bold ensured at one strokethe unity of France, which it rid of the last ever powerful vassal, and the independence of Lorraine. No doubt Louis XI would rather havebeen the only profiteer by the death of his rival. No doubt, also, hemeant to get hold of Lorraine and, as the event proved, laid handsshortly afterward on the Duchy of Bar and tried to prevent Rene IIfrom coming into this comparatively small portion of Rene of Anjou'sinheritance. But his wily plans were foiled by the very fact that, whatever his motives, he had made a show of fostering and supportingthe Lorrainer against the Burgundian. Had Lorraine become a part ofCharles the Bold's dominions, even the Mighty House of Austria wouldhave been unable to keep it independent from France; Henry II'sefforts would have been exerted against Lorraine, and Lorraine it isthat France would have occupied at the same time as the threebishoprics, Toul, Metz, and Verdun and before Alsace. France'sinfluence made itself felt in the Duchy as early as 1552, butannexation was put off until 1766. Not only did Rene II's reign ensure the independence of Lorraine, but it secured the adjunction of Barrois, for there can be no doubtthat the Duchy of Bar would have been annexed to France right away hadnot Charles VIII found it politic to give back the territoryconfiscated by his father, Louis XI, as an inducement to Duke Rene IInot to press his claims regarding such parts of Rene of Anjou'sinheritance as Anjou and Provence which France wanted and secured outof the deal. Considering the importance of the Battle of Nancy in the eyes ofLorrainers, the historical value of the badge worn by their victoriousancestors at that famous fight is easily understood. That badge was adouble traverse cross. We have Duke Rene II's own word for it. In theaccount of operation and conduct of the Battle of Nancy, dictated bythe Duke himself to his secretary, Joannes Lud, we read: "And I had onmy harness a robe of gold cloth, and the armour of my horse was alsocovered with gold cloth trappings and on the said robe and trappingswere three white double traverse crosses. " The Burgundian badge was the St. Andrew Cross. To differentiate hismen from their opponents, Rene II naturally thought of theconspicuously distinct double-traverse cross his grandfather Rene Ihad brought over from Anjou and made so much of. In another account of the battle, to be found in the Chronicle ofLorraine, written at very nearly the same time, the following passageoccurs relating to the period of the fight when Campo Basso and hismercenaries went over from the Burgundian to the Lorraine side; "Theyall tore off their St. Andrew crosses and put on the Jerusalem one, which Duke Rene was wearing. " The Jerusalem Cross obviously is a misnomer, as proven by the context, the very next sentence of which reads: "And many of the Nancians, sallying from their city to take part in the pillage of the Bold One'sCamp, were in great danger of being slaughtered by the Swiss and bytheir own countrymen because they had not the double traverse cross onthem. " Again in several other passages the cross is specificallydescribed as a double traverse cross. January 5, 1477, was the birthday of the Cross of Lorraine. From thatday, ceasing to be merely reminiscent of Anjou, the double traversecross became the Lorraine National Emblem. Since the war in 1870-71, which resulted in the annexation of part ofLorraine to Germany, a significant use has been made of the oldcross. Shortly after the signature of the Treaty of Frankfurt, ameeting of the inhabitants of Metz was held on Sion Hill. As a resultof the meeting a marble monument was erected, having carved on it abroken Lorraine Cross. An inscription in local dialect was added, reading "_C'name po tojo_" ("'Twill not be forever"). The world warended in the realization of this prophecy. So the soldiers of the Seventy-Ninth Division can look at the insigniathey have been privileged to wear and think of the memories associatedwith it. CHAPTER XXIV. BATTERY D HONOR ROLL. CORPORAL FRANK McCABE--Plains, Pa. , died January 24, 1918, at the BaseHospital, Camp Meade, Md. , at 7:40 p. M. , with an attack of acuterheumatism. Body was sent to Plains with a military escort. Buried inPlains. PRIVATE WILLIAM REYNOLDS--Pottsville, Pa. , was killed by the explosionof a French field gun on the range at La Courtine, France, at 3 p. M. October 11, 1918. Buried in the American Military Cemetery at Camp LaCourtine, October 12th. Grave No. 37. FIRST-SERGEANT JAMES J. FARRELL--Plains, Pa. , died November 2, 1918, at the Base Hospital, Camp La Courtine, France, at 4:30 p. M. , with anattack of pneumonia. Buried in the American Military Cemetery at CampLa Courtine, November 4th, at 11 a. M. Grave No. 80. PRIVATE HORACE J. FARDON--Paterson, N.  J. , died November 4, 1918, atthe Base Hospital, Camp La Courtine, France, at 11:45 p. M. FromInfluenza. Buried in the American Military Cemetery at Camp LaCourtine, November 5th, at 11 a. M. Grave No. 82. PRIVATE FIRST-CLASS JOSEPH ALPHONSUS LOUGHRAN--Hazleton, Pa. , diedNovember 5, 1918, at the Base Hospital, Camp La Courtine, France, at6:55 p. M. With an attack of pneumonia. Buried in the AmericanMilitary Cemetery at Camp La Courtine, November 6th, at 2 p. M. GraveNo. 84. PRIVATE PATRICK J. DOOLING--Metuchen, N.  J. , died March 6, 1919, atBase Hospital No. 91 at Commercy, France, at 11:40 p. M. , withbroncho-pneumonia. Buried in the Post Cemetery at Commercy. Grave No. 172. CORPORAL GUY W. MORTIMER--Pottsville, Pa. , died March 8, 1919, at Base Hospital No. 91, Commercy, France, at 4:55 a. M. Withbroncho-pneumonia. Buried in the Post Cemetery at Commercy. Grave No. 167. [Illustration: PVT. 1 CL. JOSEPH A. LOUGHRANDied In France. ] [Illustration: CEMETERY AT CAMP LA COURTINEPvt 1 Cl. Conrad Baffiel Standing atthe Grave of Joseph A. Loughran. ] CHAPTER XXV. "ONE OF US. " The following is a reproduction of extracts from an article written bythe author of this volume, on the afternoon of November 6, 1918, following the burial of Private Joseph A. Loughran, and published inthe Standard-Sentinel, a daily newspaper of Hazleton, Pa. , on December11, 1918. In general the article expresses the bond of feeling each batterycasualty called forth. "I have lost a friend; the United States has lost a good soldier; and Hazleton, Pennsylvania, has lost another flower of its noble manhood--was the total of my thoughts this afternoon as I stood, one of a military escort, and saw the remains of Joseph A. Loughran consigned to a resting place in the sacred soil of France. "He was truly 'One of Us. ' To the military records he was known as a Private First Class, but to us he was 'Al, ' one in common and ever affectionate. "Twenty of us, comrades-in-arms, all from the same city in dear old Pennsylvania, who formed the escort, listened in profound sympathy, as we, with the battery in line at our side, paid the last military honors to our deceased comrade. "The sun was shining serenely overhead; all was calm and quiet as a moment of silent homage followed the last note of Taps sounded over the grave. "The casket, enshrouded in Old Glory, for which he endured and died, was lowered, but his soul, no one could doubt, had already winged itself to the portals of eternity; there to repose in well-earned rest, to ever serve his God as he served God and country his mortal while. "He died in the height of his development as a trained soldier. Although removed from the scene of actual warfare and listed as 'Died of Disease' in the casualty records, not one of the thousands of the A.  E.  F. Fallen on the field of battle suffered a more heroic or noble death. "He was prepared, ready and willing. Months of strenuous effort spent in mastering the soldier game were cut short on the eve of material advantage to the cause, but the spirit of his endeavors lives in the heart of the outfit he served. It is the spirit, sometimes called morale, that is the decisive factor. "At the tomb of the dead the regimental chaplain vouched the fact that the departed soldier communed every Sunday of his army life. "In civil life, before entering the call of selectiveness, his worth and devoutness was well known to a large circle of friends. His military associations were none the less extensive and tender. "It was while doing his duty, along lines of communication as a member of the Battery Commander's Detail, on the range at La Courtine, that he fell a victim to pneumonia, resulting in early demise. "There are many incidents connected with the life of our fallen soldier and friend that could be extolled. But those who knew him need no words. His life shines out as a true beacon. "The boys of the battery in which he served bow in heartfelt sympathy to his wife, parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends. He died, but his death has not been in vain. His spirit lives to cheer his comrades on to greater deeds of patriotism. His loved ones at home can be proud of 'Al. ' He died every inch a man and patriotic to the core. "His grave was not neglected. The boys tenderly sodded its mound and placed a wreath of holly, plucked from the hills of Creuse, where he last trained. The grave is marked with a wooden cross, on which is inscribed his name, rank, and command, and to which is attached the soldier's identification disc. "It is Grave No. 84 in the American cemetery, situated on a gentle slope of one of the picturesque hills of Creuse province, overlooking Camp La Courtine. " CHAPTER XXVI. IN MEMORIAM. In the moment of laying aside the uniform there surged through theheart of every member of Battery D emotions too deep for words. The rainy days and mud of France were at last a thing of the past. Yes, truly a thing of the past to those staunch comrades who survivednot the ordeal to return home. Those who survived and returned home, have had an invaluableexperience. With memories of those experiences there will alwayslinger the thoughts and associations of departed comrades. As battery members they all toiled together in France for a commoncause. All shared the common thought of seeing the war period throughbravely, then to return home, bigger, better and stronger as asoldier-citizen. The comrades of Battery D whose lives were cut short by the GrimReaper when they were at the height of their development as trainedsoldiers, all cherished thoughts of getting back home. They gaveexpression to such thoughts in their letters home. Joseph A. Loughran, in a letter written to his parents just before hewas stricken with the illness to which he succumbed, wrote thesewords: "Save a couple of chairs for my wife and myself at the Xmasdinner table, for God willing we will surely be there. " In another portion of the same letter Private Loughran wrote: "Oh, boy, won't it be great to get back home again after going through allthe trials that I had. If any one told me a few years ago that I couldgo through what I have and still be as healthy as I am, I would notbelieve them. I am as healthy as an ox and weigh 180 pounds. " Thus it is that thoughts of departed comrades stir emotions too deepfor words; emotions that flood the heart with memorials that will liveon as silent tributes to the worth of those who gave up their liveswhile in the service of their country. CHAPTER XXVII. FIRST BATTERY D STAFF. *Officers. * Captain Albert L. Smith 1st Lieut. Arthur H. McGill 2nd Lieut. Hugh M. Clarke 2nd Lieut. Robert S. Campbell 2nd Lieut. Frank F. Yeager 2nd Lieut. Berkley Courtney 2nd Lieut. Frank J. Hamilton *Non-Commissioned Officers. * 1st Sgt. William C. Thompson Supply Sgt. Merrill C. Liebensberger [A]Mess Sgt. Joseph A. Loughran [A]Instrument Sgt. Lloyd E. Brown Signal Sgt. John M. Harman *Sergeants. * Hugh A. Coll William E. Ritter James M. Duffy James J. Farrell Abraham Kahn Earl B. Schleppy *Corporals. * Joseph Conlon John C. Demcik Gerald F. Farrell Edward J. Kane Harry T. Kenvin David B. Koenig John Koslap Frank McCabe Arthur D. Roderick Joseph Yeselski *Cooks. * Edward Campbell George A. Musial Charles A. Trostel August H. Genetti [Footnote A: Deceased. ] [Illustration: PVT. HORACE J. FARDONDied in France with Influenza. Buried in the American MilitaryCemetery at Camp La Courtine. ] [Illustration: GRAVE OF PVT. WM. REYNOLDSSection of the American Military Cemetery at Camp La Courtine. Pvt. Reynolds Was Killed by Gun Explosion. ] [Illustration: BARRACK AT CAMP LA COURTINE FRANCEBattery D was Quartered in This Building While Under IntensiveTraining at Range Practice Among the Hills of Creuse Department. ] CHAPTER XXVIII. BATTERY D OFFICERS. The following officers were associated with Battery D during itscareer, either as a unit of the New National Army, or as part of theUnited States Army, the classification of the combined regular andselected divisions: Captain Albert L. Smith, Philadelphia. Pa. Captain Perry E. Hall, Springfield. N.  J. First Lieutenant Hugh M. Clarke, Pittsburgh. Pa. [A]First Lieutenant Arthur H. McGill. New Castle, Pa. First Lieutenant Robert Lowndes, Elkridge, Md. First Lieutenant C.  D. Bailey, Summit. N.  J. First Lieutenant J.  S. Waterfield, Portsmouth, Va. Second Lieutenant Frank F. Yeager. Philadelphia, Pa. Second Lieutenant Sidney F. Bennett, Ottawa, Canada. Second Lieutenant Berkley Courtney, Fullerton, Md. Second Lieutenant Leo C. Julian, Lakeland. Fla. Second Lieutenant Robert S. Campbell, Pittsburgh. Pa. [Footnote A: Deceased. ] CHAPTER XXIX. ROSTER OF BATTERY D. This list contains the names and home-addresses of the enlistedpersonnel of Battery D, who served overseas and whose names wereon the sailing list of the U.  S.  S. Edward Luckenbach. Marinus Abrahmse, Pvt. , 196 Washington St. , Lodi, N.  J. Eben C. Allen, Pvt. , Main St. , Closer. N.  J. Abel R. Anderson, Pvt. , 36 West 6th St. , Ridgefield Park, N.  J. John J. Anderson, Cpl. , R.  F. D. , No. 1. Perth Amboy, N.  J. Curran B. Armstrong, Pvt. 1 Cl. , Dreyton, N.  D. Harold J. Arnold, Cpl. , 456 E. Broad St. , Hazleton, Pa. William E. Bachman, Pvt. 1 Cl. , 120 West Fourth St. , Hazleton. Pa. Conrad A. Balliet, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 597 Lincoln St. , Hazleton. Pa. Joseph T. Becker, Pvt. , 1 Cl. -Cpl. , 913 West 38th St. , Chicago, Ill. Louis F. Bracco, Pvt. , 156 Orient Way, Rutherford, N.  J. Harold C. Bratt, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 58 Cleveland St. , Hackensack, N.  J. Joseph Brazina, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 127 Muir Ave. , Hazleton, Hts. , Pa. Cornelius Breen, Pvt. , 25 Hobart Place, Garfield, N.  J. Thomas J. Brennan, Pvt. , 1 Cl. -Cpl. , R.  F.  D. , Box 394, Pottsville, Pa. William F. Brennan, Cpl. , 713 W. Tioga St. , Philadelphia, Pa. Leslie S. Brooks, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Box 60, Fort Edward, N.  Y. Hugh P. Burke, Sgt. , 312 Wells Ave. , Parsons, Pa. Alexander Calderwood, Cpl. , Gwyneed Valley, Pa. Milton O. Campbell, Pvt. , Box 65, Waldwick, N.  J. Jason Canfield, Cpl. , Kenton, Ohio. James Cataldo, Cpl. , 191 S. Pine St. , Hazleton, Pa. John Chardell, Cpl. -Sgt. , 561 Garfield St. , Hazleton, Pa. Hugh A. Coll, Cpl. -Sgt. , 627 N. Wyoming St. , Hazleton, Pa. John L. Conley, Pvt. -1 Cl. , 501 E. Clenton St. , Frankfort, Ind. Joseph E. Conlon, Cpl. , 22 Ulmer St. , Hudson, Pa. Leo C. Connor, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 137 Center St. , Ashland, Pa. James E. Corcoran, Pvt. , 470 Gregory Ave. , Weehawken, N.  J. Charles Cuttito, Cook, 16 Avenue A, Lodi, N.  J. William H. Decker, Jr. , Pvt. , 277 Forest St. , Jersey City, N.  J. Frank De Graff, Pvt. , 192 Spring St. , Lodi, N.  J. Meyer Deitch, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 858 Union Ave. , Bronx, N.  Y. Leo C. Delaney, Sgt. , 1327 Main St. , Pittston, Pa. Philip Den Bleyker, Pvt. , R.  F.  D. , No. 1, Rohway, N.  J. George Dorsey, Cpl. , 328 S. Keyser Ave. , Scranton, Pa. Fred Downsbrough, Cpl. , Box 153, Firthcliffe, N.  Y. Albert Dransfield, Pvt. , 29 Wayne Ave. , Paterson, N.  J. James M. Duffy, Sgt. -1st Sgt. , 224 Hollenback Ave. , Parsons, Pa. James A. Durkin, Hs. , 77 Henry St. , Plains, Pa. Adam O. Dyker, Pvt. , 196 Monroe St. , Garfield, N.  J. William Ellert, Pvt. , Willow St. , Moonachie, N.  J. Arden C. Evans, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Cpl. , R.  F.  D. , No. 3, Benton, Pa. Thomas Evans, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 1922 Cedar St. , Anderson, Ind. Gerald F. Farrell, Pvt. -Cpl. , 78 E. Carey Ave. , Plains, Pa. Walter R. Farrell, Pvt. -Sgt. , Box 405, Kellogg, Idaho. Ermino (Buck) Favo, Pvt. , 16 Erving Place, Garfield, N.  J. Victor J. Feinour, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Jacksonville, Pa. Leroy H. Fish, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 30 Wren St. , Pittston, Pa. Fred N. Fisher, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 28 S. Front St. , Minersville, Pa. Fay H. Freadhoff, Pvt. -Cpl. , 503 Third Ave. , Sterling, Ill. Howard C. Freitag, Pvt. , Box 44, Fair View, N.  J. Anthony J. Fritzen, S. Sgt. , 1724 Jackson St. , Scranton, Pa. John M. Frye, Jr. , Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 2519 S. 62nd St. , W. Phila. , Pa. Gomer P. Gealy, Pvt. , 634 N. Hyde Park Ave. , Scranton, Pa. William R. Geiger, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , South 2nd St. , St. Clair, Pa. Charles W. Geiswalt, Pvt. , 335 N. George St. , Pottsville, Pa. Hugh A. Gildea, Cpl. -Sgt. , 84 Merritt Ave. , Plains, Pa. John Gripp, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 938 Mt. Vernon Ave. , Scranton, Pa. Michael Guresh, Pvt. , R.  F.  D. , No. 2, Box 18, Tamaqua, Pa. Christian Hagedorn, Pvt. , 28 Sicomac Lane, Midland, Park, N.  J. Stephen A. Hurtz, Pvt. , 134 Ryerson Ave. , Paterson, N.  J. Curtis F. Horne, Pvt. , 612 21st St. , Windber, Pa. Patrick J. Hughes, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 73 Second St. , Paterson, N.  J. Charles W. Hunt, Pvt. , 775 Dalton, Ave. , Pittsfield, Mass. Concetti Imbesi, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 925 Scranton St. , Scranton, Pa. Nels C. Jacobsen, Pvt. , Farmont, Minn. Ollie S. Jay, Pvt. , Waelder, Texas. John J. Jlosky, Pvt. , 49 William St. , Englewood, N.  J. Albert R. Johnson, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Kipp, Kansas. John E. Jones, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 300 E. Beech St. , Hazleton, Pa. Reggie L. Jones, Pvt. , Pembroke, Ky. Charles L. Jourdren, Pvt. , 123 Elm Ave. , Bogota, N.  J. Charles Karsch, Pvt. , Washington Ave. , Little Ferry, N.  J. James F. Kelly, Cpl. , 123 Burke St. , Plains, Pa. John A. King, Cpl. , 515 Main St. , Pittston, Pa. David B. Koenig, Cpl. -Sgt. , 533 Peace St. , Hazleton, Pa. Erik W. Kolmodin, Pvt. , 39 Central Ave. , Ridgefield Park, N.  J. John Kontir, Pvt. , 1 Cl. -Cpl. , 538 Cleveland St. , Hazleton, Pa. Anthony P. Lally, Pvt. , Girardville, Pa. Charles C. Lang, Pvt. , 199 Wetmore Park, Rochester, N.  Y. Walter F. Licalzi, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 131 Fulton Ave. , Astoria, L.  I. , N.  Y. Joseph T. Loskill, C.  M. , 546 E. Broad St. , Hazleton, Pa. Wasyl Lugowy, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 221 Berner Ave. , Hazleton Heights, Pa. Saverio Lupas, Hs. , 80 W. Carey Ave. , Plains, Pa. Louis F. Maslakosky, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 662 Lincoln St. , Hazleton, Pa. Frank Miller, Pvt. , Orchard St. , Wortendyke, N.  J. William C. Minnich, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 202 E. Holly St. , Hazleton, Pa. John J. Mooney, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 1543 N. Morvine St. , Phila. , Pa. Thomas E. Morgan, Pvt. , Ellendon, Fla. Joseph A. Morowitz, Pvt. , 22--44th St. , Corona, L.  I. Daniel R. Mullery, Bg. , 1113 Main St. , Pittston, Pa. George A. Musial, Cook, 47 E. Sheridan St. , Miners Mills, Pa. Joseph J. McAtee, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 404 Schuylkill Ave. , Pottsville, Pa. Bernard A. McCaffrey, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , -Cpl. , R.  F.  D. , Fisher's Hill, Hazleton, Pa. Joseph McCann, Pvt. , 10 Morton St. , Paterson, N.  J. John J.  X. McGeehan, Pvt. , 116 S. Church St. , Hazleton, Pa. Joseph T. McGovern, Pvt. , 507 N. 21st St. , Phila. , Pa. Herbert G. Nankivell, Mec. , 1520 Price St. , Scranton, Pa. Walter A. Nebiker, Pvt. , 32 Wood St. , Garfield, N.  J. Lewis Nedwood, Pvt. , 965--2nd Ave. , Astoria, L.  I. , N.  Y. Joseph E. O'Donnell, Pvt. -Cpl. , 319 E. Walnut St. , Hazleton, Pa. Joseph J. O'Donnell, Pvt. , Kelayres, Pa. Stanley J. Ogrydiak, Sgt. , 655 Seybert St. , Hazleton, Pa. Gennaro Paladino, Pvt. , 280 Harrison Ave. , Lodi, N.  J. Joseph C. Parella, Pvt. , 21 5th Ave. , Lyndhurst, N.  J. Joseph H. Petrask, Pvt. , 6 S. Main St. , Lodi, N.  J. Herman Petrett, Pvt. , Box 113, Waldwick, N.  J. John Petrilla, Pvt. , 222 S. Bennett St. , Hazleton, Pa. August C. Pfancook, Sgt. , 20 E. Tamarack St. , Hazleton, Pa. Robert C. Phillips, Cpl. , Box 825, New Richmond, Wis. Harold V. Pierce. Pvt. , Sunset Hill, Kansas City, Mo. Homer D. Pifer, Pvt. , Rochester Mills, Pa. Arle J. Ploeger, Pvt. , c/o Westbury Rose Co. , Westbury, L.  I. Joseph Popso, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 228 Carleton Ave. , Hazleton Heights, Pa. Luke F. Proulx, Pvt. , 929 Atwell Ave. , Providence, R.  I. John S. Quade. Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Cpl. , Lansdale, Pa. A. Eli Quinett, 607 N. Park St. , Shawnee, Okla. Walter L. Reece, Pvt. 1 Cl. , 425 S. Walker St. , Webb City, Mo. Clinton Reese, Sgt. , 323 N. Everett Ave. , Scranton, Pa. John F. Reilly, Pvt. , 2843 Jasper St. , Philadelphia, Pa. Charles M. Reisch, Pvt. , 238 Centre St. , Ashland, Pa. Petro Repole, Pvt. , 351 West 47th St. , New York City. Philip Rheiner, Pvt. , 89 N. 6th St. , Paterson, N.  J. Harry J. Ritzel, Pvt. , 428 W. Sunbury St. , Minersville, Pa. Nathan Rosen, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 48 N. Wyoming St. , Hazleton, Pa. Grover C. Rothacker, Mec. , 37 E. Broad St. , Hazleton, Pa. John E. Rowland, Pvt. , 130 Linden St. , Yonkers, N.  Y. Nathan Ruderman, Pvt. , 193 Scholes St. , Brooklyn, N.  Y. William H. Rudolph, Sd. , 171 S. Laurel St. , Hazleton, Pa. Harry Scheiblin, Pvt. , 415 9th St. , Carlstad, N.  J. Earl B. Schleppy, Sgt. , N. Church St. , Hazleton, Pa. Alfred G. Schoonmaker, Jr. , Cpl. , 33 Clinton Place. Hackensack, N.  J. Alexander Seaton, Pvt. , Hudson Heights, N.  J. A. Ernest Shafer, Cpl. , 208 Markle Bank Bldg. , Hazleton, Pa. Walter T. Shaw, Pvt. , 3520 Longshore St. , Faconu, Phia. , Pa. Raymond Sheldrake, Pvt. , 141 N. 4th St. , Paterson, N.  J. Albert J. Sheridan, Pvt. , 413 E. Norweigian St. , Pottsville, Pa. William Seivers, Pvt. , c/o Norwegian-American A.  C. , 208 E. 128th St. , New York City. August H. Simmler, Jr. , Pvt. , 149 Clinton St. , Paterson, N.  J. Ray S. Skidmore, Bg. , 153 Abbott St. , Miners Mills, Pa. Otto J. Skirkie, Jr. , Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Ridgefield Park, N.  J. Edward J. Skrenda, Pvt. , Smithville South, L.  I. , N.  Y. Charles W. Smith, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 226 Georgia Ave. , Parsons, Pa. Albert W. Soule, Pvt. , Musselshell, Mont. Charles L. Stark, Pvt. , 33 E. Thorton St. , Akron, Ohio. William C. Steidle, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 711 E. Norweigian St. , Pottsville, Pa. John R. Sweeney, Pvt. , Cp. , 16 E. Birch St. , Hazleton, Pa. John Sysling, Pvt. , 18 Grand St. , Garfield, N.  J. George M. Thompson, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Cpl. , 571 Grant St. , Hazleton, Pa. Michael A. Tito, Cpl. , 523 Seybert St. , Hazleton, Pa. Edward G. Tracey, Pvt. , 1129 Sophie St. , Philadelphia, Pa. Charles A. Trostel, Mess Sgt. , 1119 Jackson St. , Scranton, Pa. Mattiejus Tuinali, Hs. , 1931 Albright Ave. , Scranton, Pa. Charles S. Umbenhauer, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Box 56, First St. , Port Carbon, Pa. Barney Van De Brink, Pvt. , 74 Hill St. , Midland Park, N.  J. [B]Leonard J. Van Houton, Pvt. , 29 Hamburg Ave. , Paterson, N.  J. Wilbert Weber, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 146 Woodbine Ave. , Toronto, Ont. , Canada. Harry L. Whitfield, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , 597 N. Locust St. , Hazleton, Pa. William S. Willier, Pvt. , 1 Cl. , Box 15, Hegins, Schuylkill Co. , Pa. John A. Yanoshik, Pvt. , Lofty, Pa. Frank Yeosock, Cpl. , Sgt. , 285 River St. , Coalridge, Pa. Frederick D. Young, Mec. , 1516 Market St. , Ashland, Pa. [Footnote B: Leonard Joseph Van Houten died at his home in Paterson, N.  J. , on October 7, 1919, four months after discharge from BatteryD. ] CHAPTER XXX. RECORD OF BATTERY TRANSFERS. As previously recorded in this volume, a large number of men weretransferred from the ranks of Battery D during the period oforganization. Scores of others also left the battery during the latterdays of its existence. No official record in concise form exists ofthe scores of transfers effected during the first few months of thebattery's history. The following list gives information of transfers that a thoroughsearch of the records now reveals. It is the most accurate list thatcan be compiled under the circumstances. GAINED COMMISSIONS. The following members of Battery D were transferred from the outfit assuccessful applicants to officers' training schools. All were, in thecourse of time commissioned as lieutenants. Messrs. Sword and McAloonwere commissioned in France, while the others attended trainingschools in the United States. William C. Thompson, Jackson, Miss. Merrill C. Liebensberger, Hazleton, Pa. Harry T. Kenvin, Hazleton, Pa. Thomas S. Pengelly, Hazleton, Pa. John M. Harman, Hazleton, Pa. Edward J. Kane, Plains, Pa. Willard F. Jones, Scranton, Pa. Joseph B. McCall, Philadelphia, Pa. William O. Sword, Parsons, Pa. Timothy McAloon, Scranton, Pa. John G. Young, of La Grange, Ga. , serving with Battery D in rank ofcorporal, was promoted to sergeant during September, 1918, at LaCourtine, then left the battery for the A.  E.  F. Artillery School atSaumur. He was made a "third lieutenant" of coast artillery January, 1919, and returned to Battery D the latter part of January of the sameyear at Benoite Vaux. Early in February he was sent to the fieldhospital at Chaumont Perfitte and sailed for the U.  S. From BrestApril 10th as hospital patient. On May 1st Young was transferred toCamp Gordon, Ga. , and made first-sergeant of a convalescent battalion. On January 1st, 1920, First Sergeant Young was made Army Field Clerkand transferred to Newport News and Norfolk, Army Supply Base. He wasdischarged from the service, March 12th, 1920. SENT TO TEXAS CAMP. On February 5, 1918, Battery D was called upon and furnished thefollowing men for service with the Fifth Artillery Brigade at CampLeon Springs, Texas: John E. Bayarsky, Hazleton, Pa. Frederick J. Boddin, Hazleton, Pa. Anthony Correale, Hazleton, Pa. Karl L. Lubrecht, Hazleton, Pa. Alfonso Lupattelli, Scranton, Pa. James J. McDermott, Freeland, Pa. Edward V. McGee, Hazleton, Pa. John McGrady, Plains, Pa. Bernard A. McKenna, Hazleton, Pa. Frank J. Monahan, Plains, Pa. Joseph Smith, Freeland, Pa. Earl G. Spitzner, Harleigh, Pa. Stephen J. Thompson, Hazleton, Pa. George H. Throne, Hazleton, Pa. John M. Tusko, Hazleton, Pa. JOINED KEYSTONE DIVISION. Battery D sent a number of men to the 28th Division at Camp Hancock, Ga. , who joined with the Keystoners on the eve of departure foroverseas. This transfer included: Patrick J. Campbell, Freeland, Pa. Edward T. Edgerton, Plains, Pa. William H. Ringlaben, Jr. , West Hazleton, Pa. William E. Ritter, Plains, Pa. Henry L. Schleppy, Hazleton, Pa. Joseph Welky, Hazleton, Pa. ASSIGNED AS ENGINEERS. On January 28, 1918, the following men were transferred from Battery Dto the 304th Engineers at Camp Meade: Bernard A. Malloy, Hazleton, Pa. Day M. Roth, Hazleton, Pa. Harry R. Schmeer, Hazleton, Pa. Paul W. Schmeer, Hazleton, Pa. John Shigo, Freeland, Pa. The 19th Engineers at Camp Meade received in its personnel on February15, 1918, from Battery D: James A. Kenney, Plains, Pa. Clark Burt, Plains, Pa. The February Replacement Draft at Meade took several Battery D menfrom the engineers, as follows: Condidio Gentelezza, Scranton, Pa. Harry A. Nelson, Plains, Pa. Orelio Rosi, Plains, Pa. TO DEPOT BRIGADE. While preparations for departure overseas were under way transferswere made to the various training battalions of the 154th DepotBrigade, as follows: John C. Demcik, Hazleton, Pa. August H. Genetti, Hazleton, Pa. Michael V. Hughes, Plains, Pa. Abraham Kahn, Hazleton, Pa. Francis A. Kenney, Scranton, Pa. Thomas Murray, Plains, Pa. Peter Sasarack, Jr. , Hazleton, Pa. Frederick L. Smith, 2nd, Hazleton, Pa. A number of these men were reassigned to other units. Michael V. Hughes was assigned to the 79th Divisional Staff and accompanied thedivision overseas. Frederick L. Smith, 2nd, was assigned to specialduty as a chemist. Thomas Murray was seriously ill at the Camp Meadebase hospital when the outfit departed. John Dempsey and George D. Vogt, both of Hazleton, Pa. , were, on March17, 1918, assigned to the Q.  M.  C. School for cooks and bakers at CampMeade. TO REGIMENTAL SUPPLY CO. Transfers were made to the 311th F.  A. Supply Co. , as follows: George Kolessar, Hazleton, Pa. Christy McAvaney, Scranton, Pa. George Novotney, Hazleton, Pa. Stanley Reese, Hazleton, Pa. Harry B. Stair, Mt. Top, Pa. Joseph Yeselski, Hazleton, Pa. CHANGES AT BENOITE VAUX. A number of changes in the battery roster were necessitated at BenoiteVaux, France, due to men being sent to hospitals for sickness. Someleft to attend schools, while Philip J. Cusick, of Parsons, Pa. , received word through the Red Cross of his early discharge due to thedeath of his father. The transfers at Benoite Vaux included the following: Howard A. Bain, Kansas City, Mo. Thomas A. Davis, Scranton, Pa. Philip J. Cusick, Parsons, Pa. Stuart E. Prutzman, Palmerton, Pa. Joseph Silock, Hazleton, Pa. Harry Dauberman, Lawrence, Kansas. Michael V. McHugh, Hazleton, Pa. Anthony Esposito, Hackensack, N.  J. Reed F. Hulling, Charlestown, W. Va. Clarence V. Smith, Hazleton, Pa. Arthur A. Jones, Boundbrook, N.  J. Charles E. King, Pottsville, Pa. John Verchmock, Hazleton, Pa. Charles Nace, Philadelphia, Pa. Arthur Van Valen, Englewood, N.  J. James F. Burns, Pottsville, Pa. OTHER TRANSFERS Joseph Delosaro and John Sharawarki, both of Hazleton, Pa. , weredischarged from Battery D February 5th and 14th respectively, forphysical disabilities. Carl G. Brattlof, of Newark. N.  J. , was assigned to the 154th BrigadeHeadquarters, Dec. 1918. James J. Gillespie, of Hazleton, Pa. , Feb. 11th, 1918, wastransferred to the Railway Transportation Corps. George F. Haniseck, James F. McKelvey and Mathew Talkouski, all ofHazleton, Pa. , May 31st, 1918, were sent to join the U.  S. Guards, Fort Niagara, N.  Y. John F. Kehoe of Hazleton, Pa. , Feb. 3, 1918, was transferred toHeadquarters Bn. G.  H.  Q.  A.  E.  F. , France. He left Camp MeadeFebruary 27th, being the first man from the organization to getoverseas. Otto Kopp, of Hazleton, Pa. , transferred June 1, 1918, to HeadquartersCo. , 311th F.  A. Donald H. Durham, of Newark, N.  J. , and R.  L. Krah, of Lavelle, Pa. , were transferred to the regimental Headquarters Co. , while in France. William M. Powell. Jr. , of Hazleton, Pa. , February 5th, 1918, assignedto the Ordnance Depot Co. , No. 101, Camp Meade. On October 12, 1918, Raymond Stegmaier, of Jamaica, N.  Y. , wasdetached from the battery on special duty as orderly to Lieut. -Col. Palmer. William Van Campen, of Ridgewood, N.  J. , was injured by an explosionof a hand-grenade on Nov. 5, 1918. The following day he was sent toBase Hospital No. 24 at Limoge. Nicholas J. Young, of Pottsville, Pa. , was transferred to the same hospital, October 16th, following the gunexplosion at La Courtine. David L. Grisby, of Terre Haute, Ind. , was transferred to BaseHospital No. 15 to undergo an operation. He left the battery at Villesous La Ferte on November 22nd. Charles A. Weand, of Pottsville, Pa. , Nov. 30, 1918, was sent to BaseHospital No. 11, A.  P.  O. 767, France. Henry J. Buhle, of New Brunswick, N.  J. , was sick in the hospital atLa Courtine when the regiment left the artillery range, in France, November 14, 1918. Carl J. O'Malia, of Scranton, Pa. , and Frederick M. Bowen, ofEast Rutherford, N.  J. , were patients at the hospital in Rimaucourtwhen the outfit left Blancheville, France. Arthur D. Roderick, of Hazleton, Pa. , and William R. Jones, ofBergenfield, N.  J. , became detached from the battery while on leave. They were taken ill in Paris and sent to a hospital in the Frenchmetropolis. Edward Campbell, of Hazleton, Pa. , one of the battery cooks, remainedat the embarkation camp at St. Nazaire, France, to take charge of campbakery. Cook Campbell returned to the States the latter part of July. CHAPTER XXXI. PERSONALITIES. September 20, 1918. Adam O. Dyker was re-christened "Honey-Bee" Dyker. The event took place in a rather stinging manner at Camp La Courtine, France. On the night in question Private Dyker was on guard duty at thebattery kitchen, which was situated under a canvas roof in a localitythat was infested at that particular time with bees and yellowjackets. While walking his post at the midnight hour Dyker thought of a can ofstrawberry jam that he knew the cooks had deposited in a certainplace. Groping his way through the dark Dyker found the can ofpreserves, also a spoon, and immediately started to fill a sweettooth. In a short time the entire battery guard was aroused by a distressingcry from one of the outposts. At first it was difficult to determinewhether the call was from a 311 Regiment post or a 312th Regimentpost. The question was soon settled, however, when Dyker appended to thecustomary outpost call the designation of both the battery and theregiment, and added these words. "For God's sake hurry up, I'm allbee'd up. " The jam which he devoured was full of bees and yellow jackets. Whilethe humor of the incident appealed to the boys of the battery, allsympathized with the unfortunate guard, who had an agonizing time ofit in the camp hospital for several weeks as a result of eatinghoney-bees. * * * * * Shortly after the armistice was signed John J. Jlosky drank too muchcognac and fell out of line at retreat one night. He was ordered toreport at the battery office. When asked why he did not stand atattention he replied to Lieut. Bailey: "How do you expect a man tostand at attention with sand-paper underwear on?" The battery had just been issued woolen underwear that day. * * * * * In recalling stable-police duty at Camp Meade, Md. , there is oneincident that always amused Bill Powell. Here's the story in his ownwords: "After the usual morning duties as stable police, 'Mad Anthony'assigned me to load a wagon of manure. After struggling with it forperhaps an hour I felt extremely proud of the transference of thelarge amount of material from the ground to the wagon. I was thenordered to go with the driver. I thought this pretty soft. It was azero day and I soon found that I was mistaken. We were on our way tounload the manure in flat cars. "When we got to Disney, half frozen, the driver disappeared to aposition near a roaring log fire and I commenced to unload. Here'swhere I realized the advantage of being a driver. "While resting I noticed another wagon being unloaded nearby with adetail of three negroes doing the heaving. This got my ire, and when Igot back I looked up 'Mad Anthony' and related what I had seen. "'Mad Anthony' looked at me and replied, 'Hell, isn't one white man asgood as three niggers?' "Not wishing to admit differently I left--satisfied. " CHAPTER XXXII. A FEW GENERAL ORDERS. "I desire to express to all the men with whom I was fortunate enough to serve, sincere thanks for their universal loyalty and courtesy to me and the other officers who were with me. It was difficult during the active life of the battery to express to its members the affection I felt for them collectively and individually, and the high personal regard I had for them all, both as soldiers and friends. "We were never fortunate enough to be called into action, but at all times, I am sure, that all those who came in contact with Battery D felt that its personnel could be depended upon to do the right thing at the right time. We all had our blue moments, but, wherever we may go, or whatever we do, the spirit of Battery D and the friendships we made will help us. "Let me conclude by wishing a life of health, happiness and success to all my old friends in Battery D, and may I further add that, in looking back, I could have no greater wish than to feel that their friendship and respect for me could be as great as the friendship and respect I hold for them all. " CAPT. A.  L. SMITH. "Stepping Stones, " Gwynedd Valley, Pa. , 1920. "I had the good fortune to serve with the best Battalion of Field Artillery in the United States Army--the Second Battalion, 311th F.  A. " MAJOR D.  A. REED. 909 Amberson Ave. , Pittsburgh, Pa. , 1920. "My memories of Battery D are the most pleasant of my army experiences. I know that your book will fulfill the very definite need for a complete and accurate account of the experiences and travels of the members of the battery. " CAPT. PERRY E. HALL. Springfield, N.  J. , 1920. "It would indeed be most regrettable should there be nothing permanent to remind us of those ties of friendship, far greater than those of organization, which bound us together for the greater part of two years. The recollection of the wonderful spirit and morale of those with whom we were so intimately associated must ever bring back that old feeling of just pride which we all felt in our battery. " LIEUT. FRANK J. HAMILTON. 4822 N. Camac St. , Philadelphia, Pa. , 1920. "The happiest days of my life were spent in the 311th F.  A. And one of my best friends is Captain Smith of Battery D. " LIEUT. -COL. HERBERT H. HAYDEN. Army & Navy Club, Washington, D.  C. , 1920. CHAPTER XXXIII. MEMORABLE DATES. 1918. July 13--Left Camp Meade, Md. , U.  S.  A. July 14--Set sail from Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Pa. July 17--At anchor in Halifax harbor, Nova Scotia. July 20--Left Halifax bound overseas. July 30--Battle with German U-Boats. July 31--Landed in Barry, South Wales. August 3--Hiked to Southampton, England. August 4--Landed in Cherbourg, France. August 5--Left Cherbourg via rail. August 7--Arrived in Montmorillon. September 4--Left Montmorillon via box car. September 4--Arrived at La Courtine. November 14--Left La Courtine via box car. November 16--Detrained at La Tracey. November 16--Landed in Ville sous La Ferte. November 26--Left Ville sous La Ferte via motor train. November 26--Arrived at Blancheville. December 19--One hundred left on horse convoy. December 25--Mule convoy arrived at Cirey les Mareilles. 1919. January 9--Left Blancheville mounted. January 13--Arrived at Benoite Vaux. March 19--Trip by road to Boncourt. April 1--Left Boncourt mounted. April 3--Arrived in Cirey Les Mareilles. April 12--Matériel turned in at Andelot. April 19--Entrained at Rimaucourt. April 21--Arrived at St. Nazaire. May 14--Set sail for United States. May 27--Arrived in New York harbor. May 28--Debarked at Bush Terminal, Brooklyn. May 28--Arrived in Camp Dix, N.  J. May 30--Battery officially discharged. June 4--Discharge papers distributed. FINIS